It was a case of third time lucky for a dyslexic Second Chance graduate who tried to improve his matric results in order to get into CPUT.

Today Naasih Mallick, 21, is enrolled into his first year of Civil Engineering studies and is looking forward to the day he can look at a building he had helped to create after graduating.

Mallick first matriculated from Harold Cressey High in 2015 but was unhappy with his mediocre pass. A year later he attempted to study for a rewrite by himself but again his lacklustre final results were not enough to get him a spot in university.

Luckily his father spotted CPUT’s Second Chance programme being offered by the Service Learning Unit and the young man enrolled for three subjects – Mathematics Physics and Accountancy.

Manager of the Second Chance programme Jacqui Scheepers says Naasih was the ideal student because he was diligent, considerate and supported by concerned parents.

“Despite his disability Naasih was a role model to other students and his parents also played a critical role in his success, he is an example of how well a student can do if they have the appropriate level of parental support,” she says.

Naasih says the programme brought out the best in him and today he has ambitions of finishing top of his class.

“I really connected with the teachers and I also assisted in class as much as I could,” he says.
“I organised study groups and made sure I attended every single class.”

The Second Chance programme is having a limited run in 2018 and is already full.