Partially blind pupil Pelisa Mkwambi made history for her school when she received the premier’s award as the top pupil in the special schools category.
The matriculant from Khanyisa School for the Blind in Port Elizabeth was honoured at the national senior certificate top achievers awards held at the East London International Convention Centre on Tuesday night.
The teenager, who was born blind, said she had been enrolled at the school from Grade R. It was only at 18-months that the family realised Pelisa only had partial vision in her right eye. This, she said, meant she could make out words in bold large print and was able to do away with Braille, inspiring her to focus more on her studies.
Pelisa received a distinction in life orientation with a level six in Xhosa, religious studies and business studies.
Her prizes included a trophy, certificate, a cellphone and a much-needed R80000 bursary.
“The staff at school are so supportive and they really do go the extra mile to assist us and motivate us,” Pelisa said.
“In our Grade 12 year we actually stayed at the school hostel because the teachers held special classes for us until our exams were complete.
“I was only aiming to pass. I didn’t expect to actually win an award.”
Pelisa is off to Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University next year to complete a diploma in business studies.
Mother Ntombizandile Mkwambi said Pelisa’s physical disability was not the only challenge the family had faced.
“I am a single parent and I was unemployed when Pelisa and her twin sister were born.
“There are many things that Pelisa needed like a pair of special glasses to protect her eyes, but I could not provide them because we rely on her disability grant as the only household income,” Ntombizandile said.
“But I am so proud of my daughter for overcoming all of those hardships and persevering in her studies.
“With the bursary she will now be able to get a qualification.”
Khanyisa school principal Bongiwe Daniels said Pelisa had made the school proud.
“It came as no surprise that she won the award because she loves her school work.
“If she was not faced with the financial challenges at home, then I do believe she would have done even better.
“But as a school she has made us so proud. Pelisa is the first pupil from the school to have won this award and we wish her all the best in her future endeavours,” Daniels said.
Blind pupil shining light for province
The matriculant from Khanyisa School for the Blind in Port Elizabeth was honoured at the national senior certificate top achievers awards held at the East London International Convention Centre on Tuesday night.
The teenager, who was born blind, said she had been enrolled at the school from Grade R. It was only at 18-months that the family realised Pelisa only had partial vision in her right eye. This, she said, meant she could make out words in bold large print and was able to do away with Braille, inspiring her to focus more on her studies.
Pelisa received a distinction in life orientation with a level six in Xhosa, religious studies and business studies.
Her prizes included a trophy, certificate, a cellphone and a much-needed R80000 bursary.
“The staff at school are so supportive and they really do go the extra mile to assist us and motivate us,” Pelisa said.
“In our Grade 12 year we actually stayed at the school hostel because the teachers held special classes for us until our exams were complete.
“I was only aiming to pass. I didn’t expect to actually win an award.”
Pelisa is off to Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University next year to complete a diploma in business studies.
Mother Ntombizandile Mkwambi said Pelisa’s physical disability was not the only challenge the family had faced.
“I am a single parent and I was unemployed when Pelisa and her twin sister were born.
“There are many things that Pelisa needed like a pair of special glasses to protect her eyes, but I could not provide them because we rely on her disability grant as the only household income,” Ntombizandile said.
“But I am so proud of my daughter for overcoming all of those hardships and persevering in her studies.
“With the bursary she will now be able to get a qualification.”
Khanyisa school principal Bongiwe Daniels said Pelisa had made the school proud.
“It came as no surprise that she won the award because she loves her school work.
“If she was not faced with the financial challenges at home, then I do believe she would have done even better.
“But as a school she has made us so proud. Pelisa is the first pupil from the school to have won this award and we wish her all the best in her future endeavours,” Daniels said.
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