Keeping young people in school and on a path towards further education has been at the heart of the Sister Schools Programme, an intervention to remove barriers to learning and improve learner outcomes.
Implemented across the Pixley ka Seme District, the programme has positioned the district among the most improved nationally.
It has been particularly successful in Noupoort, with the Noupoort Combined School recording a 95% matric pass rate and Enoch Mthetho High School a 100% pass rate in 2025.
“The Sister Schools Programme played a decisive role in our learners’ success. By providing meals, transport and learning materials, key barriers such as hunger and access were removed, allowing our learners to attend extra lessons consistently and focus fully on their studies.
“This support boosted morale and motivation, and directly contributed to Enoch Mthetho achieving a 100% matric pass rate,” said Michael Kei, headmaster.
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Introduced in 2020, the programme is a district-wide initiative designed to improve learner outcomes by pairing high-performing and underperforming schools. Schools are grouped into clusters where educators and learners share subject expertise, teaching strategies and learning resources.
Weekend workshops and peer learning sessions form a central part of the programme, allowing learners to benefit from focused revision, exposure to experienced educators and collaborative learning environments.
Showing what is possible
“This programme has shown what is possible when schools work together. With the support of Noupoort Wind Farm, all six schools in the Umsobomvu Circuit benefited, resulting in the circuit improving from 79% in 2024 to 90,5% in 2025 – the most improved in the district. We are grateful,” said Freddy Silengile, Pixley ka Seme district director at the Department of Education.
In the Umsobomvu Local Municipality, Noupoort Wind Farm played a key role by providing transport for learners and staff to attend weekend workshops, meals during sessions, printing of learning materials and stationery packs for each matriculant. In total, 160 beneficiaries were supported.
“By supporting learners to meet the requirements for tertiary education, the programme opens pathways to careers across a range of professional fields. These learners will return to Noupoort as qualified professionals, contributing skills and knowledge back into the community,” stated Vanessa Fredericks, economic development manager for the Noupoort Wind Farm.
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