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GEORGE NEWS - This year the whole Eden and Central Karoo Education District (ECKED) had reason to celebrate when the matrics of 2021 received their year-end results last Friday.
ECKED secured a spot among the top ten districts in the country and is furthermore listed second on the provincial list of eight districts. "The district made history!" said director Jewel Jonkers of ECKED.
"We obtained the third highest percentage of bachelor's passes in the provinces, and furthermore scored the third position in the province with our mathematics pass percentage."
York High headmaster Francois Moll is full of praise for all the matrics in the region. "We are so impressed by this grade, not only at York, but throughout Eden and Central Karoo. They have shown resilience and focus and thoroughly deserve their success. South Africa needs youngsters like these."
Jonkers attributed this outstanding achievement to some key factors. "Putting God first and establishing a spirit and atmosphere of care and support in which officials and teaching staff could reach and aim for excellence, are top of the list," he said.
"In addition to these, an emphasis on teamwork afforded different role players to make their mark and create the required impact which would guarantee success. We compiled and implemented the District Improvement Plan in which curriculum advisors, circuit managers, Isles (International School Leaders of Educational Support) and corporate officials, as well as school principals and teachers each played their respective roles to ensure functional schools delivering quality education.
"The learners hugely benefitted from the growth mindset programme presented in schools. Our learners showed great resilience and dedication. Their hard work payed off. I am extremely proud of the class of 2021."
Jonkers congratulated and thanked all concerned, saying it was a collaborative effort. "The district could not have done it without you!"
Kudos to matrics
York High School had a total of 182 matrics last year, of which 19 learners received an A aggregate, seven received straight As and 250 received subject distinctions.
The York High matric class of 2021 shows an 11% increase in bachelor's passes, with 160 learners who can apply to study towards a higher certificate, diploma or bachelor's degree at a tertiary institution such as a university or technicon.
Outeniqua High School headmaster Christo Vorster congratulated the matrics of 2021 on behalf of the governing body, the Kwagga Trust, staff, parents and fellow learners, with their excellent performance.
"In a difficult year, the matrics of Outeniqua High School, who could not always be in school, performed well. On 22 November they braved the floods in George and everyone came to write. Congratulations on excellent matric results!"
A total of 21,8% of the Kwagga matric class received an A aggregate and 690 received subject distinctions - 29,7% of all subjects written. This is the sixth most of all Afrikaans schools in South Africa. A total of 99% of all the matrics in Outeniqua High qualify for further studies.
The average that the matrics of 2021 achieved was 69,6%. It is the best grade point average in the last 10 years and the second highest in the history of the school.
Parkdene Secondary School's headmaster Derick Petersen said what stood out last year regarding the Parkdene matrics was the teachers.
"Yes, learners worked hard, but even during the final NSC exams some teachers gave extra classes. We taught until the very end and everyone did their bit through and through! We are so proud of the class of 2021."
Parkdene's pass rate of 84,6% is a 14,2% increase on the previous year (2020 - 70,4%) and an increase of 21,7% compared with the year before (2019 - 62,9%). A total of 52 learners received a bachelor's pass.
Pacaltsdorp High School principal Clifton Titus is proud of the school's pass rate of 78% - almost 10% higher than the previous year. According to Titus, the Grade 12s had to face the challenge of having only 14 months over a period of two years to prepare for the matric final exam, due to the restrictions caused by the pandemic.
A total of 46 learners received bachelor's passes. "Our learners' results have increased in quality, so I have to say once again that I am very proud of my educators and matric class of 2021.
"Our top five learners are Lutho Skweyiya (69%), Camille Fortuin (67%), Daneal Jansen (67%), Juanita Lourens (66%) and Nicole Booysen (64%)."
George Herald freelancer Zama Gagu reports that Imizamo Yethu High School shows a 78,4% pass rate. The top achieving award went to Khanyisa Tata who received seven distinctions, including 98% for accounting. The second place went to Wongalethu Mamela and the third place to Heinrich Hobbs.
George Mayor Leon van Wyk congratulated last year's matrics on passing Grade 12. He said those who did not do well should not be disillusioned, but persist in their endeavour to pass their grade.
Parkdene Secondary School: Jannelie Blaauw, class teacher of 12A, with a group of her learners. From left are Michelle Seconds, Kaybee Claassen, Hilmar September, Samolicia Pietersen, Thersia Williams, Chantey-Key Esau, Deslynne Williams, Embruché Lewies, Logan Papers and Rovey Crowley.
Provincial performance
The Western Cape's pass rate was announced by National Minister of Education Angie Motshekga on Thursday 20 January as 81,2%, showing an increase of 1,3% on last year's results. The average for the country is 76,4%, with 256 000 learners eligible for university entrance.
Read the full school performance report released by Motshekga here
• The WC retention rate from Grade 10 to 12 (those actually writing the NSC) has increased by 3,7 percentage points to 70,3% - the highest ever.
• The WC has also achieved the highest ever percentage of bachelor's passes and the highest in the country, at 45,3%.
• The WC mathematics pass rate increased to 72,4% (+1,6%) and the science pass rate to 77,1% (+2,2%).
Excited Imizamo Yethu High learners welcome their role models - the class of 2021 - just before the opening ceremony of the matric results. Photo: Zamu Gagu
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