Actor unveils secret to matric success!

ACTOR, playwright, and director Khaya Ngema claims that dramatising matric books is the best method to enhance pupils’ understanding.

Khaya, known for his roles in various productions like Uzalo and Imbewu: The Seed, emphasises that this approach aids matric pupils in grasping literature more effectively as they commence their academic year.

He’s showcasing this dramatisation as a theatre play at the Bat Centre in Durban.

He started on Friday, 31 January, and the showcase ends on Friday, 7 February.

Khaya, who hails from Verulam in the north of Durban, has over 20 years of experience in bringing matric books to life on stage.

He told Daily Sun pupils comprehend better when they watch or listen rather than reading only.

“With young people today, there’s a preference for watching content, especially as they consume so much on social media. A book that’s not dramatised doesn’t capture their interests,” he said.

He gives the example of Impi Yabomdabu Isethunjini, a 278-page book, saying pupils understand it easily when they see it performed.

The same applies to other lengthy books, where dramatisation significantly improves comprehension.

Khaya highlights that in the digital space, where many are engaged in social media or learning via audiobooks, pupils struggle with traditional reading.

His team dramatises several books, including Impi Yamodabu Isethunjini, My Children! My Africa!, Sophiatown, and others.

He believes if matric pupils gain a clearer understanding of these works at the start of the year, they’ll achieve higher marks in English and IsiZulu by year’s end.

“I’ve been doing this for over 20 years, and the response is consistently positive, as pupils excel in both English and IsiZulu,” he said.