Learners get a hearty breakfast before writing exams
9 November 2021
Candidates writing the National Senior Certificate exams at Heideveld High School are served breakfast before they tackle their question paper every day.
The matric exams started on Wednesday, 27 October 2021 and will conclude on 07 December 2021.
Vanessa Nelson, founder of a non-profit organisation, Hope for the Future, said, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and we wanted to ensure that the learners had the best start so that they can focus on writing their exams. It is also our way to motivate and encourage them in the final stretch of their 12 years of schooling.”
Nelson put together a team from the Heideveld area to help cook and serve the learners from her community. They set up tables in the school quad where the learners can have their meal and catch up with their classmates. Last week’s breakfast included a choice of cereal, eggs, viennas, muffins, mini pizzas, fruit and juice.
Learners will also receive snacks when they write in the afternoon.
William Meck, Heideveld High School Principal, welcomed the initiative. While the school is part of the National Feeding Nutrition Programme and meals are provided for learners, Meck said the Grade 12 learners enjoyed the interest shown in their wellbeing.
Nelson added that learners arrived at school earlier to enjoy the breakfast and destress before facing the day’s exam paper.
“I would like to make the breakfast an annual programme. It is very important to me to give back and inspire the learners who had to face immense challenges to reach this point in their school careers. Opportunities for further studies and greater earning potential are now within reach and I want them to know that we as adults believe in them and want them to reach their goals.”
