The results of the matric class of 2022 were announced last week, revealing that nine high schools in the Helderberg proudly maintained the remarkable feat of flawless pass rates following another tough academic year.
Local matriculants are among the greater Western Cape matric class of 2022 considered to have beaten the odds and increased the provincial matric pass rate by 0,2% from 81,2% in 2021 to 81,4%.
The aggregate saw the province place fourth behind Free State (88,5%), Gauteng (84.4%) and KwaZulu-Natal (83%).
South Africa’s matrics of 2022 achieved a 80,1% pass rate, reflecting a 3,7% improvement from the 76,4% recorded in 2021. The national results were released by Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga last Thursday (19 January).
Motsheka said for the past 10 years the National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass rate had consistently increased – from 60% in 2009 to above 70% pass rates in recent years.
She further commended the class of 2022 for maintaining the trend despite having faced challenges related to the Covid-19 pandemic, Eskom’s load-shedding and sporadic service delivery protests.
The Western Cape’s matriculants were also the biggest matric class ever, with 49 102 candidates passing their exams – an extra 2 629 candidates compared to last year – resulting in the province’s highest exam turnout rate since 2015.
“In other words, a greater proportion of the learners who registered for the matric exams at the beginning of 2022 actually wrote the full set of exams than in recent years,” said provincial education minister David Maynier.
matrics faced massive odds
Maynier regarded the achievement as outstanding as the class was one of the last to go return to school in 2020, and were not at school every day throughout 2021.
Their curriculum was trimmed for three years, but the matric exams tested the full content – and they had no exam practice in Grade 10 and 11.
“In matric, they struggled with the ongoing challenge of load-shedding,” he said. “While we were able to conduct all exams successfully despite the power cuts, they left many learners in the dark in the evenings when they needed to study.
“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.”
Maynier attributed the class of 2022’s success to the “incredible support from their teachers, parents and district offices, who pulled out all stops to make sure learners could succeed” and matriculants’ unbeatable spirit.
“Faced with the challenges of the pandemic and load-shedding, they could have been tempted to give up. But they showed incredible grit and gave their all, putting in hundreds of extra hours of work and investing in their own futures. We are so proud of them and we can’t wait to see what they do next!”
In the Helderberg, Somerset College, Curro Sitari and Generation School Somerset West achieved a flawless score in the Independent Examination Board (IEB) examinations, while
False Bay, Helderberg and Parel Vallei high schools, Montgomery & Miller Academy and Somerset West Private School achieved the same feat in the NSC examinations.
Eight high schools in the basin also improved on their overall NSC 12 pass rate, while two failed to maintain their 100% pass rate.
The results of six schools in the Helderberg slightly declined from the 2021 results.
Three high schools in Grabouw consecutively increased their overall pass rates for the grade.
Other Helderberg schools’ results are as follows:. Gordon High increased from 58,8% to 62,8% in 2022; . Hope and Light boasts a 73,7% pass rate in 2022;. Hottentots-Holland High declined from 95,2% in 2021 to 91,5% in 2022;. Khanyolwethu Secondary increased from 61,6% in 2021 to 66% in 2022;. Macassar High increased from 64,1% in 2021 to 66,7% in 2022;. Madrasatur Rajaa Strand increased from 68,1% in 2021 to 78,4% in 2022;. Mondeor Eco School declined from a 100% pass rate in 2021 to 79,2% in 2022; . Natural Learning Academy declined from a 100% pass rate in 2021 to 87,5% in 2022;. Nomzamo High increased from 66,4% in 2021 to 80,1% in 2022;. Strand High declined from 98,4% in 2021 to 98,2% in 2022; . Rusthof Secondary declined from 66,7% in 2021 to 47,9% in 2022;. Simanyene Secondary increased from 77,7% in 2021 to 79% in 2022;. Strand Secondary increased from 36,3% in 2021 to 54,2% in 2022; and . Zandvliet High increased from 64,5% in 2021 to 70,3% in 2022.
The results of the four high schools in Grabouw are:
. De Rust Futura Academy increased from 90,3% in 2021 to 92,8% in 2022;
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Grabouw High increased from 88,9% in 2021 to 92,2% in 2022;. Groenberg Secondary increased from 80,6% in 2021 to 88,8% in 2022; and . Umyezo Wama Apile High declined from 63,2% to 62,8% in 2022.
