Village rallies behind Marikana matrics with intensive bootcamps

Grade 12 learners at Marikana North High School are getting vital academic support ahead of their final exams through community-driven bootcamps that offer much more than just revision sessions - they offer hope.

In a region grappling with deep socio-economic challenges, the school has found a way to rally support for its matrics by running intensive bootcamps during school holidays. With learners staying overnight at the school, the camps are made possible through collaboration between the school, parents, the Department of Education and private sector sponsors.

“These bootcamps are a lifeline for learners who face many social and economic challenges,” said Stoffel Pitse, principal of Marikana North High School. “Thanks to Engen and Tharisa Mines, our learners now have the resources and support needed to succeed.”

For the third consecutive year, the two companies have sponsored the programme, which includes a Winter Bootcamp held in July and another scheduled for October, just before final matric exams. The aim is to prepare learners thoroughly for their National Senior Certificate assessments through focused academic interventions.

What makes the initiative particularly powerful is its community model. Parents take turns preparing meals and supervising learners overnight. The Department of Education provides mattresses, while local families contribute where they can. Tharisa Mines supplies food parcels to support these efforts.

“We are recognising students who have started businesses that solve problems in their communities,” said Ntsako Mandlazi, BYA manager. “We want to give them the tools, confidence and exposure they need to take their ideas even further.”

In addition to the bootcamps, learners have access to a full library of study guides across subjects, collected over three years through the same partnership. These guides are preserved and reused by future matric classes, creating a sustainable academic resource.

In 2024, the school saw a 7% increase in its matric pass rate, an improvement partly credited to the growing support system around its learners.

Representatives from the North West Department of Education, the School Governing Body, and sponsor organisations recently gathered at the school for a symbolic cheque handover, reaffirming their commitment to the initiative.

“Education is the cornerstone of progress,” said Olwethu Mdabula, CSI manager at Engen. “By supporting both academic resources and sustainable initiatives like the bootcamps, we aim to empower the next generation with opportunities to thrive in a technology-driven world.”

Paindane Henrique, Engen's Business Development Manager, added: “We want to empower learners to reach their full potential and prepare them for the modern world. That’s why we’re extremely excited to play a role in moulding our future leaders.”