There were joy and jubilation on Friday January 4, when matriculants received their National Senior Certificate (NSC) results.
The Western Cape class of 2018 came third nationally, with a 81.5% pass rate; Gauteng was the top performer with 87.9% and the Free State came second with 87.5%.
MEC for Education Debbie Schäfer congratulated the matriculants of 2018 last week and said the percentage of candidates who passed had increased from 75.7% in 2009 to 81.5% in 2018 – an increase of 5.8%.
“Matric results are our second key measure of the state of education in our province.
“The Western Cape Government has always maintained that indicators of quality go well beyond the overall pass rate. We focus on the quality of the passes and the retention of as many pupils as possible in the school system so that we can ensure the best possible opportunities for our young people in the Western Cape,” she said.
JG Meiring High School in Goodwood recorded a 94.2% pass rate compared to last year’s 84.7%.
Principal Theodore Lindertz said 192 pupils sat for the exam and 51% of the pupils achieved a Bachelor’s pass, which enables them to apply to study at a university.
Mr Lindertz said the improvement in their matric results this year was due to the school’s new and improved academic turn-around strategy.
“We focused on the pupils weaknesses which were our maths and science admissions. Those two subjects have been the Achilles heel of the school. We had pupils taking maths even though they had failed it in Grade 9 and 10 and then went on to take it in Grade 11 and 12. Pupils have to pass maths and science in the lower grades to be able to take maths in Grade 11 and 12,” he said.
He also praised the dedication of his 42-strong staff complement for their tireless hard work.
“The commitment of the staff and their unwavering belief in the pupils has made all the difference. Additional classes and various academic interventions also helped to improve the pass rate,” he said.
To the pupils who did not pass, Mr Lindertz said: “The measure of a person’s strength is not by how many times they failed but how many times they tried. I would like to urge these pupils to restrategise and my message to them is to never give up. Failing is not the end; it is just another stumbling block to overcome. We as teachers are the purveyors of hope to those pupils who have stumbled,” he said.
The top three pupils at the school were Carlyn Benjamin who scored 89%; Bartholomeuw Titus with 80% and Kauthar Abrahams who came third with 78.2%.
Top achieving pupil Carlyn Benjamin of Ruyterwacht was elated with her results and said she is considering studying medicine or dentistry at either Stellenbosch University or the University of Cape Town (UCT).
“I am shocked that I clinched first place because matric is quite tricky. I tried my best to limit my phone usage while studying and concentrated on the material that my teachers provided. My parents are very excited about my results,” she said.
Hoerskool Tygerberg obtained a 98.6% pass rate with 80.4% Bachelor’s passes.
Parow High School achieved a 96.1% pass rate compared to the previous year’s 94.6%.
Fairbairn College obtained a 98% pass rate; 79% of the pupils qualified for a Bachelor’s pass and collectively the matrics received 133 distinctions.
Principal Bernie Marchand said 178 pupils sat for the NSC exam last year.
“I am very happy with the results. Every school strives for a 100% pass rate and also a Bachelor’s pass that is above 80%. We, at Fairbairn, are very pleased and excited about the results,” he said.
The top three pupils at the school are Zahraa Armadien with 86.6%; Atish Dullabh with 84.4% and Masroor-Ahmed Parker with 83.7%.
Cleo Jamie Khan, who came fourth and obtained 83% overall with five distinctions, said she plans to study BCom Law at either Stellenbosch University or the University of the Western Cape (UWC). “Overall I am very happy with my results but I would like to have one subject remarked,” she said.
Goodwood College achieved a 97.9% matric pass rate. In last year’s NSC exams, 98 pupils sat for the exam and 58.9% of them achieved a Bachelor’s pass which is an increase from 37.6% the previous year.
President High School’s matric pass rate took a dip from 100% the previous year to 96.2%.
Principal Erna Joubert said 53 pupils sat for the NSC exam and there were 28 Bachelor’s passes. “Only two pupils failed and I am very satisfied with the results. I want to tell the matrics of 2018 to grab every opportunity that comes their way. I want to also encourage them to make the best of life,” she said.
The top three pupils at the school are Bianca Swanepoel who clinched 77%; Donisha Sauls who received 75.6% and Angel Hoffman who received 67.6%.
Donisha Sauls who clinched the second spot said she will complete a bridging course this year and will apply to study Biotechnology at UWC the following year. “I love biology and that is why I want to explore this career path,” she said.
Mr Schafer said local government is committed to ensuring that every pupil in every classroom receives a quality education.
“We need to focus on the sustained increase in results throughout the system and that it is reflective of the overall improvement in the state of education in the Western Cape,” she said.
Mr Lindertz said the improvement in their matric results this year was due to the school’s new and improved academic turn-around strategy.
“We focused on the pupils’ weaknesses which were our maths and science admissions. Those two subjects have been the Achilles heel of the school. We had pupils taking maths even though they had failed it in Grade 9 and 10 and then went on to take it in Grade 11 and 12. Pupils have to now pass maths and science in the lower grades to be able to take maths in Grade 11 and 12,” he said.
He also praised the dedication of his 42 staff for their tireless hard work.
“The commitment of the staff and their unwavering belief in the pupils has made all the difference. Additional classes and various academic interventions also helped to improve the pass rate,” he said.
To the pupils who did not pass, Mr Lindertz said: “The measure of a person’s strength is not by how many times they failed but how many times they tried. I would like to urge these pupils to restrategise and my message to them is to never give up.
“Failing is not the end; it is just another stumbling block to overcome.
“We as teachers are the purveyors of hope to pupils who have stumbled,” he said.
The top three pupils at the school were Carlyn Benjamin who scored 89%; Bartholomeuw Titus with 80% and Kauthar Abrahams who came third with 78.2%.
Top achieving pupil Carlyn, Benjamin of Ruyterwacht, was elated with her results and said she was considering studying medicine or dentistry at either Stellenbosch University or the University of Cape Town (UCT).
“I am shocked that I clinched first place because matric is quite tricky.
“I tried my best to limit my phone usage while studying and concentrated on the material that my teachers provided. My parents are very excited about my results,” she said.
Hoerskool Tygerberg obtained a 98.6% pass rate with 80.4% Bachelor’s passes.
Parow High School achieved a 96.1% pass rate compared to the previous year’s 94.6%.
Fairbairn College obtained a 98% pass rate; 79% of the pupils qualified for a Bachelor’s pass and collectively the matrics received 133 distinctions. Principal Bernie Marchand said 178 pupils sat for the NSC exam last year.
“I am very happy with the results.
“Every school strives for a 100% pass rate and also a Bachelor’s pass that is above 80%. We, at Fairbairn, are very pleased and excited about the results,” he said.
The top three pupils at the school are Zahraa Armadien with 86.6%; Atish Dullabh with 84.4% and Masroor-Ahmed Parker with 83.7%.
Cleo Jamie Khan, who came fourth and obtained 83% overall with five distinctions, said she planned to study BCom Law at either Stellenbosch University or the University of the Western Cape (UWC).
“Overall I am very happy with my results but I would like to have one subject remarked,” she said.
Goodwood College achieved a 97.9% matric pass rate. In last year’s NSC exams, 98 pupils sat for the exam and 58.9% of them achieved a Bachelor’s pass which is an increase from 37.6% the previous year.
President High School’s matric pass rate took a dip from 100% the previous year to 96.2%.
Principal Erna Joubert said 53 pupils sat for the NSC exam and there were 28 Bachelor’s passes. “Only two pupils failed and I am very satisfied with the results. I want to tell the matrics of 2018 to grab every opportunity that comes their way,” she said.
The top three pupils at the school are Bianca Swanepoel who clinched 77%; Donisha Sauls who received 75.6% and Angel Hoffman who received 67.6%.
Donisha Sauls who clinched the second spot said she would complete a bridging course this year and will apply to study Biotechnology at UWC the following year.
“I love biology and that is why I want to explore this career path,” she said.