Teen skips grade, gets 6 distinctions

Durban 05012015 Kimberly Dlamini (16) from Umlazi. with her mother, Nompumelelo and grandmother, Mpathi is getting her name. Picture:Jacques Naude

Durban 05012015 Kimberly Dlamini (16) from Umlazi. with her mother, Nompumelelo and grandmother, Mpathi is getting her name. Picture:Jacques Naude

Published Jan 6, 2015

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Durban - An Umlazi pupil skipped a grade on her way to achieving six distinctions.

Kimberly Dlamini, 16, was doing so well that her Velabahleke High School teachers allowed her to go from Grade 8 to Grade 10.

It saved the teen, who counts mathematics as her favourite subject, from becoming bored and restless and now she plans to study medicine.

She has applied to Nelson Mandela Medical School and the University of Cape Town to achieve this goal.

 

“My principal, Mr Mtshali, played a huge role in my doing well. My friends also supported me during my matric year.”

Headmaster Mbongeni Mtshali, 54, described Kimberly as an “exceptional” child and said the sky was the limit for her.

Mtshali said teachers at the school recognised Kimberly’s ability early on as she was getting distinctions in her subjects.

“A child who is exceptionally gifted becomes bored and playful because she has already grasped the work. When the teacher repeats the work the child gets easily bored,” said Mtshali.

He said this was an important achievement for the school as it showed the fruits of the hard work the teachers put in during the year.

Her mother, Nompumelelo, a domestic worker, said: “I am very happy about her achievements. I was not entirely surprised about her achievements. From a young age she has always been a very smart child.”

Dlamini said she hoped her daughter would get a bursary to study whatever she desired.

Kimberly advised pupils in matric to make sure they began studying at the beginning of the year.

Daily News

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