15 Feb 2021

To counter self-doubt, Khumo Mmalane birthed and nurtured within her some self-belief that saw her conquer in the just released junior certificate (JCE) examinations results.

Born and bred in Bobonong, the 15-year-old Bobirwa Junior Secondary School pupil scored seven As and two Bs that earned her a  merit in her JCE. She dedicates the top grade to self-belief, a weapon she says one needs to conquer in all the battles. 

“Self-belief will spur you further in life, provided you’re disciplined, abstaining from social ills and focusing on the course,” she says as a motivation to other pupils.

Mmalane  is the only pupil who obtained a merit in the whole Bobirwa region and amongst the 11 high performers nationwide. In the 2019 JCE results Bobirwa JSS scored another merit. 

But behind the celebrated Merit there was a group of other learners that helped propel Mmalane’s ship to the shore. 

However, it was a reciprocal arrangement. Pupils studied together, complementing each other to eventually yield a Merit, two As, two Bs and a C within the group.

A turbulent individual driven by desire to achieve greater results in whatever she puts her mind on, Mmalane  believes that in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, pupils in rural areas faced challenges they needed to battle against in order to score incredible results. 

Unlike in developed areas where there are fully fledged, functional and resourced libraries for research and supplementation of learning, pupils in many rural areas  rarely enjoy such facilities and benefits, Mmalane observes. 

However, she believes that the lack of libraries and many other challenges are like fire that renders bricks durable to withstand harsh weather. 

Actually, Mmalane  holds that the challenges built her. 

Raised by her mother and having to first study at Rasetimela Primary School before transferring to Gobojango and the back again to Rasetimela are some of the challenges she encountered throughout her lower grade learning. 

Now that she has made it, though she still believes she could have garnered straight As had the teaching and learning been smooth throughout the year, Mmalane  advises other JC learners to commit to hard work and to maintain a positive attitude towards teachers and subjects. 

“Pupils should learn to accept criticism and keep smiling even when it is hard,” she said.

Most importantly, Mmalane credits her teachers and mother for nudging her to the right directions even when the roads seemed too bumpy.

Though a shining example of JCE success in the Bobirwa region, Mmalane  is still undecided on what career path to pursue. 

“I will explore every opportunity available to me in order to see how far I can go. That may help widen my scope,” she says as she heads to Maruapula School for an interview. 

A vice chairperson of national children consultative forum and a district chairperson (Central District) of the same, Mmalane  has a fire in her that thrusts her shaft towards ‘becoming somebody in life’ with an intent of changing those that she can to better the lives of others.

“Ha ke bua le wena jaana o bileditswe interview kwa Maruapula,” said Mmalane ’s proud mother Ms Opelo Mmalane rejoicing over child’s exploits. 

Like her daughter, the 48-year old mother did not expect Mmalane  to garner a merit based on the disruptive events of 2020 on teaching and learning. 

However, she expected her child to pass nonetheless. She reveals that her daughter has always been an exceptional performer who gives her all in everything she does. 

The third of four children, Mmalane  is said to be meticulous in dividing her time especially between school and home chores. Ends