A story of circumstances

From catching up on the Further Studies (AP) maths syllabus on his cell phone after midnight to landing distinctions in his matric trials exams, star Harvest High School pupil, Bulelani Marhwa, says Advantage Learn gave him the tools to build a career in mathematics – a subject he loves.

This interview originally took place on the 21st of November 2018, when we had the privilege of talking to Bulelani about how Further Studies (AP) Maths had impacted his life…

Nineteen-year-old Bulelani Marhwa from Ladysmith had zero expectations of getting distinctions in mathematics and physics until he enrolled at Harvest High School and found himself in a classroom under the tuition of Deputy Principal Anne Gordon.

Using “cheap” data on his cell phone between midnight and 6 am, the youngster not only caught up the Further Studies (AP) maths syllabus using Advantage Learn’s online tutorials but achieved marks of more than 90% for Grade 12 maths, physics, and accounting, making his long-held desire to study Actuarial Science a tangible reality.

Bulelani was registered with Advantage Learn by Gordon and enrolled in the IEB’s Further Studies (AP) maths course at the end of the first term in 2015, with the school sponsoring both his IEB fees and Advantage Learn registration costs.

“I was a whole term behind when I registered,” said Bulelani. “During the March holidays, I slept in the afternoons and then studied between midnight and 6 am using MTN’s ‘Night Shift’ data package on my phone. Mrs Gordon also gave me extra lessons. I was so humbled and grateful when she asked me if I would like to do AP maths,” he said.

Gordon and Bulelani – who admits he had little desire to learn or apply himself during his early primary school years – credit Advantage Learn’s extraordinary support system and online teaching methodology for his outstanding academic achievements.

 “I cannot speak highly enough of Advantage Learn.”

Anne Gordon

“The support they provided for Bulelani was incredible. He has done this on his own with help and backing from people at Advantage Learn. Online learning has so many advantages, especially as learners are able to watch the tutorials over and over again. The whole experience has been brilliant,” she said.

Bulelani said the friendliness and accessibility of the support staff at Advantage Learn made all the difference for him. “If I didn’t understand a concept, I would just send a voice note or a picture of the problem to staff members ‘Miss Trish’, Mike, or Fabian, and they would send me a voice note straight back or phone immediately to discuss the problem. The people there are so friendly and helpful,” he said.

Gordon, who has taught maths at the school for 28 years, said that creating such an opportunity for a youngster whose talent and intelligence had remained untapped for much of his life and then developing that potential was, without doubt, a career highlight for her.

“Bulelani was the first youngster enrolled with us who we could consider for AP maths. When he arrived here, I recognised something in him. So often it is the really bright children in rural areas who are neglected. I just knew he had potential,” she said.

Bulelani ultimately became head boy at Harvest High School, and intends to make a career in Actuarial Science.

It is an incredible journey from his Grade 4 experiences, where his mother, Hlophile, enrolled him at Biggarsberg Primary School only to be told that he was so far behind in his development that he would have to return to Grade 2. He was also unable to speak English. By the end of Grade 7, he was deputy head boy at the primary school and almost fluent in the language, which he had taught himself in part by watching football on the television.

During school hours, Bulelani, who didn’t know how to go online when he first started the course, would spend every spare moment watching the Advantage Learn Further Studies (AP) maths curriculum online tutorials in a small wooden shed on the campus using the school’s only laptop.

“When the June exams came around in Grade 9, I knew I was there; I had caught up. I told myself, ‘You can do this’. I got 80% for maths and about the same for physics. I was so disappointed. But then, as the year went on, I started getting 90%.”

“Using the Advantage Learn online tutorials to study Further Studies (AP) maths has also improved my other marks for subjects such as ordinary maths, physics and accounting. I love working with numbers, they are so interesting, and I understand how they work,” he said.

Bulelani, who dreams of going abroad once he has completed his studies, says students wanting to follow in his footsteps should not allow circumstances or challenges to “bring them down”.

“Mrs Gordon and the people at Advantage Learn have opened my mind – they have made me feel loved and cared for and given me the necessary tools. Together with God and my mother, they have inspired me a lot,” he added.

If you are interested in studying Further Studies (AP) Maths or know of another learner, like Bulelani, who could benefit from studying this programme, then sign up on our Further Studies (AP) Maths page or contact our team for more information.