By Mbali Tanana
Frustrated matrics at Alicedale’s Hendrik Kanise Combined School were excited this week when they each received secure digital (SD) cards loaded with customised learning materials.
The idea to deliver the cards to the matrics was cooked up in the Grocott’s Mail newsroom, following our extensive coverage of the recent five-week closure of the school.
We partnered with Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE), which sponsored and sourced 27 SD cards for the project. The cards were then loaded with customised content by Grocott’s Mail contributors and Rhodes University fourth-year journalism students Mohale Manyama and Sinesipho Habana, who were touched by the learners’ plight.
Matriculants speak
Aspiring nurse, Lisakhanya Ntlanjeni, 17, an only child, who plans to make her family proud and pursue her nursing degree at the University of Cape Town, said the SD cards will help them study and catch up on the five weeks lost, at their leisure.
“With this learning material, we have no excuse not to perform well because now we have all our subjects put into one card that we can access digitally in our own time, and we can revise,” she said.
Firstborn of three, Sinokuhle Magume, 17, said she was determined to be an example to her younger siblings by doing well in matric and attending university. The aspiring author passionate about philosophy and human evolution said that while she understood why the community was protesting, her concern was the lost time out of the classroom.
“Since we reopened last week, we have been under a lot of pressure to catch up and try to prepare for exams, which start tomorrow (Tuesday). The SD cards will bring more relief because now we will not just be learning at school but have something to revise with, even at home,” she said.
School closures
In March, parents and community members protested the unsafe condition of the school building, which they described as a “cemetery”. Protestors were incensed that the promised R150 million school refurbishment had been delayed for a decade. The boycott was called off in May after the Department of Education pledged to take action.
Despite its crumbling infrastructure, Hendrik Kanise is a high-achieving, no-fee-paying school, which secured a 96% pass rate in the 2024 matric exams.
SD cards made with love
Journalism student and SD card project participant Sinesipho Habana hails from Alicedale and is a former Hendrik Kanise learner. He said he was excited to be part of an initiative that allowed him to give back to his old school.
“When I returned to Hendrik Kanise School this week, I felt very nostalgic, and my heart was full of purpose.
Walking through the familiar passages warmed my heart to see the school that had been my home, but my heart also went out to the current students who faced extreme disruptions in their learning.
“The loss of five weeks of instructional time disadvantaged their learning process, and I was happy to contribute towards a solution. As I handed over the SD cards, I was overcome with a wave of sentiment. I remembered the late nights spent studying for exams, the togetherness of peers, and the affirmations of teachers who believed in us.
“In that moment, I wanted to offer the same encouragement to the current students, and I am so grateful I got the opportunity to address them. It was fulfilling to give back to a community whose identity helped shape me, and I was reminded about the importance of solidarity during challenging moments.
“It was touching to see the grateful faces of the students and the teachers, which reinstated my belief in the power of community. This activity as an alumnus not only enabled me to aid the upcoming generation of students but also reinforced the lifelong connection that I have with my nourishing mother (school). I felt elated as I walked out of the school, knowing that one’s humble contribution can make a huge difference to someone’s life, especially during a time of crisis,” Habana said.
Limpopo-born Mohale Manyama said handing out the SD cards to the learners was an emotional and meaningful experience. “While their parents were fighting for a safe learning environment for them, academically, they are behind now, and exams are here. There is a lot at stake for the class of 2025, and I truly believe the SD cards will help and make a difference.
“The learners now have the opportunity to study at home, catch up in their own time, and not fall too far behind. This is not the first time I have worked on something like this, and every time I am reminded of the impact we can have.
“Seeing the appreciation from both learners and teachers reminded me that we must be active participants in the change we want to see,” Manyama said.
Each SD card is loaded with hundreds of textbooks, study guides, exam papers and memos, high-quality, CAPS-aligned educational videos from YouTube, and some ‘reading for pleasure’ ebooks. When inserted into learners’ phones, they can be powerful educational aids. Matrics began writing their June exams on Tuesday.
The school responds
Hendrik Kanise’s Head of Curriculum and Deputy Principal, Candice Louw-Arnels, said the school often struggled to get help. “Because of our location, people forget that we are actually also part of Makana Local Municipality, and we often see or hear of things happening for schools in Makhanda. It is nice that we could get this help, especially in the form of something so tangible now when it counts after a challenging time and just as our students start with exams,” she said.
