Pollen Eixab
“I was very proud of myself,” said Kiro Malan about the numerous merit awards and certificates he received as top achiever in his class and grade last year.
Malan scored above 90% for both English and Mathematics, and 82% for Afrikaans, making the 8-year-old Emma Hoogenhout Primary School learner the most decorated learner at his school by the end of his second-grade year with his overall achievements.
Admitting that all proud parents sing their children’s praises, Kiro’s mother Jonell Malan (33) said she created an environment for him to thrive academically by starting his early education with arithmetic and languages.
“Counting up to 100 before he turned one. Full sentences and conversations before he turned two. As soon as he was in Pre-K, he could do math sums and explain the process to his answers. He has always been very interested in learning and understanding, and he inundated me with questions and still does,” a proud Jonell told Youth Corner.
Kiro also attends Pathway, an aftercare centre he joined after starting second grade. Apart from tutelage, Pathway also offers robotics and chess, and Kiro picked up chess immediately.
Israel Shilongo, the head coach at Pathway and Kiro’s mentor, said the youngster is not just naturally talented but a hard worker too.
“It does not just take talent; it takes commitment and talent is only potential,” Shilongo reiterated.
Offering their students programmes designed to stimulate them as well as assistance with homework, Pathway also organises regular assessments which determine the progress of the students.
For Shilongo and the Pathway team, Kiro’s monthly assessments were always on par.
“Just when you think you have him busy for 30 minutes; he’s done with the work,” said Shilongo.
With hopes of changing the way people learn and study with proactive and interactive learning, Pathway one day plans to expand and become a high school or institution for learners from grades 1 to 12.
Like any child his age, Kiro shows interest in many other activities.
“He plays tennis and soccer, he cycles, he plays videogames, he hikes, he flies drones. He would like to start playing basketball and he is going to learn to play the drums,” Jonell said and in the same breath apologised to their neighbours in advance for the noise.
As to what the future holds for Kiro, his mother wants him to simply be a happy and healthy child for as long as he can.
On his part, Kiro said: “I would like to become a pilot one day.”