The Matric Class of 2022 showed resilience in the face of adversity like load shedding, Covid-19 and taxi strikes.
Pupils in the Western Cape increased the provincial matric pass rate to 81.4%, with over 49 000 candidates passing their exams – the largest number of successful candidates the province has ever had.
Western Cape Education Minister David Maynier highlighted this and said it was an extraordinary achievement because the class of ‘22 was at the greatest disadvantage due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and other disruptions during the exam period.
“This class was one of the last to go back to school in 2020, and were not at school every day during 2021. Their curriculum was trimmed for three years, but the matric exams tested the full content. And they did not have any exam practice in Grade 10 and 11.”
He added: “ They have struggled with the ongoing challenge of load-shedding. While we were able to conduct all of our exams successfully despite the power cuts, they left many learners in the dark in the evenings when they needed to study and candidates in Cape Town had the added disruption of a major taxi strike during their exams. Due to the extraordinary efforts of our schools, parents, and learners, our candidates were all able to write their exams during the strike.”
Mr Maynier praised the matriculants for persevering and having an unbeatable spirit and thanked everyone who supported the matriculants; including teachers, parents, and district offices, who he said pulled out all stops to make sure pupils could succeed.
South Peninsula (SP) High School, in Diep River, achieved a 98,4% pass rate in the 2022 NSC Examinations. A total of 160 students (86%) achieved Bachelors’ passes and 98% have access to tertiary studies.
Zeid Baker, principal of the school, believes that the “quality of passes were much better than last year, despite the 2022 matric class having to endure two FET (Faculty of Education) years of disrupted learning and a year of load shedding and transport disruptions. He attributes the success in a challenging three years to the hard work and perseverance of students and teachers, and the support of parents. “
“I am satisfied with the results. Our target every year is a 100% pass rate and 90% bachelors rate. Teachers must be commended for keeping our children focused on their goals in 2022. Our parents must be praised for the supportive role they played in getting our children back to a positive pre-Covid mindset,” said Mr Baker.
Zwaanswyk Principal, Chandre Otto, was immensely proud of the school’s class of 2022, who she said had “outdone themselves” to achieve a 91.2% pass rate, an increase from last year’s 87.1%, with several pupils achieving multiple distinctions.
At the pupils’ last assembly Ms Otto said the hard work and dedication paid off in the end: “It hasn’t been easy but our learners have showed that they can persevere and have passed exceptionally well.”
Mymoena Scholtz, mother of Zwaanswyk High School’s top achiever Aneequa Scholtz had an emotional moment when she celebrated with her daughter and her peers.
“I could not stop the tears of joy because so many youth faced so many challenges but they managed to complete their matric. I want to encourage each and everyone of them to not stop here, to keep going and striving to become great. I am so proud of our matriculants because they stood tall and strong against a pandemic and pushed through,” said Ms Scholtz.
Christel House SA in Ottery celebrated a 100% matric pass rate and a bachelor pass of 89.2%, 20% higher compared to the national average of 80.1% and its bachelor pass is also more than double that of the national average of 38.4%. Collectively, Christel House SA’s class of 2022 achieved 23 academic subject distinctions and seven in Life Orientation.
Principal Dr Ronald Fortune expressed his pride in the class of 2022.
“I am incredibly proud. Our students and teachers have worked hard and sacrificed much and it has all been worth it. We celebrate our students’ achievements but we are also aware that this is just the start of their journey to creating a better life for themselves, their families and their communities. I am excited to follow the next phase of their lives.”
Results for schools in the Southern Mail distribution area are: Christel House Academy 100%, Crestway High 58,6%, Fairmount High 74.5, Grassdale High 92.2%, Grassy Park High 76.2%, Heathfield High 61.2%, Immaculata High 88.1%, Lavender Hill High 68.9%, Lotus High 38.2%, Pelican Park High 91%, Sibelius High 68.9%, South Peninsula 98.4%, Steenberg High 72.6%, Wittebome High 76.2%, Wynberg High 75.7%, Zeekoevlei High 77.8% and Zwaanswyk High 91.2%.
