Matrics heave sigh of relief

Pupils, family and friends wait anxiously for the 2016 matric results at The Settlers High School in Bellville.

The class of 2016 has done it again, with schools in the Metro North Education District (MNED) performing exceptionally well in the 2016 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams.

The results were officially released in the Western Cape at noon on Thursday January 5, with pupils, their family and friends gathering anxiously at their respective schools, for that very important piece of paper.

For some it was a moment of utter relief as they opened their envelopes, knowing that months of hard work and studying had paid off and that they were now set for the next part of their journey.

The district, which includes schools in Bellville and Durbanville, achieved a 88.08 percent pass rate, increasing by 4.13 percent from 83.95 percent. A total of
43 725 candidates passed matric in 2016, achieving a pass rate of 86 percent, an improvement of 1.3 percent on the pass rate of 84.7 percent in 2015.

The class of 2016 also had a record-breaking pass rate of 77.2 percent in mathematics, and 73.8 percent in physical science.

Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said Western Cape pupils managed to increase the province’s pass rate while successfully retaining the highest percentage in the country of pupils within the system.

“The Western Cape’s performance in the 2016 NSC is one of quality, and of which I am very proud. I acknowledge that there is still much to be done to improve education in this province, especially the inequalities that still exist.

“We will continue to look at ways of improving education in the Western Cape as we want to see more learners achieving their NSC and access to higher education to broaden their opportunities,’ she said.

The Settlers High School in Bellville managed a 98.7 percent pass rate, with Grade 12 pupil Chad Damons achieving a 93 percent average. He scored 99 percent for accounting and 96 percent for maths and physics.

Chad from Elsies River, said he was happy with his results, and although the wait had been stressful, it was all worth it. He plans to study either actuarial science or accounting at the University of Cape Town.

DF Malan High School and Bellville High School achieved a 100 percent pass rate, while Tygerberg Hoërskool managed a 99.5 percent.

DF Malan pupil Tanya van der Westhuizen said she was shocked with how well she did in the exams but very happy with her results. The top pupil for the school was Leon Rossouw with 95.7 percent, followed by Wilhelm Schlunz with 94.8 percent.

Other schools in the area who performed well include Bellville Technical High School (HTS) with 97.4 percent and Fairmont High School with 92 percent.

An ecstatic Faseeg Meyer from Kuils River, said his nerves had the better of him and that he could not eat that morning. The HTS pupil was however, pleased with his marks.

“All the studying paid off,” he said.