Penguin Tutoring Blog

Parents of Matrics are going to need some extra help and guidance over the next few weeks.The Prelims have been postponed by the Gauteng Department of Education due to the ongoing educators strike. Exams were scheduled to start on the 3rd September, but will now take place during the week of 20th September. The papers will be written in the afternoons and catch-up sessions will take place in the mornings.

The Department of Education has been distributing Study Guides to affected schools and parents and learners are urged to download past papers from these websites;
www.thutong.doe.gov.za Click on “Support for Matrics “  or  www.education.gpg.gov.za Click on “Matric exam material ”
The DoE will also put up self explanatory guidelines on how to study, and set up study groups. Lessons will be broadcast through radio and television through the Department of Basic Education.

We at Penguin Tutoring Co are concerned about the strike and its far reaching negative impact on the future of these young people. We have tutors available in all areas to assist you. Log onto our website www.penguintutoring.co.za and ask for help now.

Penguins, lets LEAD South Africa and volunteer to help out at schools in crisis.

Just a few weeks ago, we watched with pride and excitement as we hosted the most successful sporting event in the World. We wore our Bafana shirts, waved our flags, and felt proud to be South Africans. On Saturday 94 000 (and thirteen) of us swarmed to the FNB stadium in Soweto to cheer on our rugby boys. We are a very special nation of amazing people. We have pride and commitment and belief that we can achieve the impossible.

But we are also strongly aware of a crisis that is currently unfolding in the hospitals and schools. South Africa’s education is in a state of crisis as members of one Teachers union, SADTU, embark on violent strikes and prevent learners and teachers from attending school. If Government has not responded to their demands, members of Naptosa will join their colleagues.

We sympathise with their cause and strongly believe that they should be well paid for work well done. After all, the future of our nation is in their hands. But, we can’t sit by and watch as learners miss out on essential teaching, not now, only weeks before their final exams.

We at Penguin Tutoring Co would like to assist these bewildered young people where we can and we appeal to you to come forward if you are able to volunteer your time. You had the benefit of a good education and are now able to follow your dream as a student at a tertiary institution. Thousands of Matrics may have to delay writing their exams until next year, because of the disruption to their education

We will be offering to help out at schools and in communities to prepare the Matrics for their final exams. Do the right thing - sign up with us and help LEAD SA.

This week saw 1 million government employees on strike. Their demands are for better pay, better working conditions and better housing allowances. Some schools advised parents to keep their children at home as they couldn’t guarantee their safety. As parents, our first concern will be for our own children  - their safety if they do go to school, or their disadvantage if they miss out on valuable learning time by not being at school.

At Penguin Tutoring Co, we strongly believe in the value of a quality education for all the children of our country. We believe that this can only be delivered by top class, committed and dedicated educators. If the teaching profession cannot attract the very best people to their ranks, our children have little chance of being educated to world class standards.

We empathise with these teachers, and agree that they should be paid an excellent salary - for work well done, with measurable results. After all, the future of our children, and this country, is in their hands.

While Education is in crisis , we will continue to offer our supplementary tutoring service to all learners throughout the country, who are worried about their preparation for pending examinations. Matriculants have their Prelims looming, and with this in mind, we have recruited additional qualified tutors. We have a Saturday School project  “on ice”, waiting for a suitable partner school.

If you are concerned about your child’s performance and the increasing pressure on them to get on top of their work in the short time left before the end of this academic year, call us.

We will be able to help.