Matrics wear school uniforms to their 'wow' farewell

No fancy dresses, expensive suits or luxury cars, just their ordinary school uniform.

That is how pupils of Iketsetseng Secondary School in Sasolburg in the Free State attended their Matric dance at the weekend.

Speaking to TimesLIVE on Wednesday, principal  Eric Sedi said he came up with the idea of having a "uniform matric dance" because he was tired of seeing the majority of his pupils not attending the function, due to a lack of funds to meet the expectations of fancy dresses and luxury cars.

"We noted with dismay that in many cases when we are holding the matric dance, only half or a quarter of the pupils attended. Others would come to see their peers arrive in flashy cars," said Sedi.

"My heart would be broken to see this because those from indigent families could not take part. I felt so bad about it," he said.

Sedi said he could see the stress that the matric dance posed on the pupils who could not afford it, saying it made it difficult for them to even focus on exams.

He decided to propose that they abolish the most stressful part of the dance.

"I wanted to return it to the old days, my days, when we had farewells not dances. So I proposed it to the matric committee and the staff and we came up with 'Project Inclusivity'," Sedi added.

"I had to go to the learners to try and convince them," he said.

Seventy percent of the pupils immediately bought into the idea while 30 percent still needed some convincing.

"We showed them the positive about it because they could use that money to apply for tertiary (studies). Come January, the person who was wearing fancy clothes wouldn't have money to apply for tertiary despite their good marks and will be in the township," Sedi said.

The parents of the pupils needed the least convincing, with Sedi saying they simply embraced the idea when it was pitched at the beginning of the year.

Despite doing things slightly differently, Sedi said he did not want to take away the spirit of the occasion so they pulled out all the stops to organise a glamourous event.

"We talked to a catering company and they hired a place and decorated it.  The learners thought that they will be going to an ordinary hall but they got there and found it was a 'wow' thing. It was a huge surprise for them and they were all excited," he said.

The pupils were ferried to the venue in minibus taxis organised by the school. They were allowed to bend the school rules just a bit as the girls were allowed to wear their own heels, as well as have their make-up, hairstyles and nails done for the event.

All except three of the 238 pupils attended the dance. Those who did not come had valid reasons from being ill to attending family events.

As pictures of the matric dance have done the rounds on social media, Sedi said they had mostly received compliments for doing things differently.

He hopes other schools will join the trend.

Last year, the school received a matric pass rate of over 90%. Sedi said with the stress of the matric dance being alleviated from the pupils, he hoped they would maintain that standard or do even better in future.

"If the pupils see that we love them, care for them and want what is best for them, they will be pushed to always perform well," he said.