Southern African Youth Development Agency (SAYDA) wishes to salute all matric students who have entered the 1st Southern African Annual Top Achievers Awards (SAATA Awards). The concept of SAATA Awards was discovered and implemented by the Executive Director of Southern African Youth Development Agency with an intention of recognizing and acknowledging the extraordinary efforts made by students, often under very difficult conditions. We present accolades to Top Achievers across the academic landscape from the previous year. In addition, Language, Mathematics, Accounting, Information Technology, Economics, Business Studies and Matric Top Achiever of The Year Awards are presented to eligible students.
Awards will be made at the discretion of the Selection Committee which may choose to grant one award, no award, or multiple awards in any one year. In general, SAATA awards are also given posthumously.
1.1. The Committee reserves the right to issue or retract awards based on an individual’s attitude, behaviour, demeanor, attendance and adherence to the ethos of Southern African Annual Top Achievers Awards; thus, awards are NOT automatic and are awarded at the discretion of the SAATA Awards Committee;
1.2. The Awards Committee is not purely bound by National, Provincial, Regional or District selection;
1.3. Awards are given for youth development under the control of Southern African Youth Development Agency Management or under the jurisdiction of a recognized schools’ association;
1.4. External Youth Development activities will ONLY be considered by the committee provided the candidate meets the External Youth Development Activity Criteria.
1.5. The Awards Committee may second additional members to the committee to serve for a specified time period;
1.6. Matric Students may receive a Certificate for Outstanding Performance for exceptional achievement in lesser categories and some Matric Students may receive Top Achievers Award in other sub-categories.
1.7. Students to be awarded Top Achievers Awards or in any activity agree to continue participations in the activity until the end of the awards ceremony. Failure to continue to participate in the activity may result in the withdrawal of an award unless there are exceptional circumstances, eg. debilitating injury.
Selection Criteria:
*Please note: SAATA Awards plays a leading role and has sole discretion in choosing recipients*
The awards recognizes students that show outstanding educational growth, improvement, commitment or intellectual development in their academic year but do not meet the criteria for the Matric Students Award Category. Its purpose is to encourage and reward students who give their best efforts, often in the face of special obstacles. Criteria for this award is developed at SAATA Awards.
These awards are given at the SAYDA's discretion based on the criteria developed at the SAATA Awards. The criteria should reflect the purpose of the award and must be applied fairly to all students.
The following are examples of criteria for which the SAATA Awards for Matric Students Awards Category may be presented:
1. Members:
The awards committee consists of the following members:
1.1. Chairperson: Southern African Youth Development Agency
1.2. Secretary: Partners Delegate
1.3. The Sponsors Delegate
1.4. Sub-committees:
(a) Matric Students Awards
(b) TVET Students Awards
(c) University Students Awards
(d) Matric Teachers Awards
(e) Honorary Lifetime Achievement Awards
2. Roles and responsibilities of members:
2.1. The Chairperson:
(a) Chairs all meetings
(b) Invites the various partner's for feedback and/or motivation for awards
2.2. The Secretary:
(a) Keeps records of and collates all nominations for discussions at meetings.
Brings to the attention of the chair possible Matric, TVET and
University;
(b) Processes results for all awards (Matric, TVET, University, Teachers
and Honorary);
(c) Takes minutes and distributes.
3. Presentation of awards:
Awards will always be presented after the issuance of Matric, TVET and University
awards at the end of January each year.
4. Designation:
(a) All nominated Matric Students are to wear school uniform on the day of
the awards function.
(b) All nominated TVET Students are to wear graduation gowns on the day
of the awards function.
(b) All nominated University Students are to wear graduation gowns on the day of
the awards function.
(b) All nominated Matric Teachers are to wear graduation gowns on the day of
the awards function.
(b) All nominated Honoree's are to wear graduation gowns on the day of the awards
function.
5. Designation:
A certificate with appropriate designation will be issued to all deserving candidates
at the awards. A certificate with a frame will be issued to each student receiving a
certificate award.
Matric results are one of the most important milestones in a learner's education or career life, meaning your better understanding of the results will enable you to give the necessary career support to your child.
Parents should bear in mind that when their children make career decisions, theirs is just to support and guide them and that can only be done if they (parents) thoroughly understand the meaning of their children’s matric results.
The total points on table 2 below are also calculated according to the APS system above.
There are different levels of achievement shown on National Senior Certificate and as such have different implications on the next step that a learners should take.
It is always compulsory to pass your home language with at least 40% – anything less than 40% for a home language means the learner has failed.
The provisional entrance indicated above means even though the learner achieved a bachelors degree pass which allows him or her entrance at the university, however it does not guarantee him/her a space in all the courses because for programmes like Engineering you might find that the university wants 80% pass in Mathematics and if the learner had achieved symbols below that she/he will not be accepted in the programme.
Encourage your child to check the entrance requirements of the course she/he wishes to study, it will be more helpful for your child if you also familiarise yourself with the admission requirements.
Try to provide guidance for them or even contact Sayda Career Guidance for a Career Adviser and talk about options available, contact details: 011 568 6910 OR email: career@sayda.org.za
Unsure if the candidate you would like to nominate qualifies? Please reach out to us at saataawards@sayda.org.za and we will be happy to answer questions about the nominations process, guidelines, or eligibility.
SAATA AWARDS recipients are recognized at the Southern African Youth Development Agency's annual events and receive SAYDA benefits. Recipients are also given a podium at the awards ceremony and the opportunity of connecting with potential employers. Highlights of their accomplishments are added on the SAATA Awards website gallery.
Recipients will also earn SAATA Awards microcredential as a way to digitally document and display their achievement.