The Brandvlei Youth Centre Independent School celebrated the results of its matric learners and educators who, against all odds, set the bar high with an impressive 94,7% pass rate. This is a marked improvement of 25,95% from the 2020 accomplishment of 68,75%.
The offender class of 2021 was the 7th cohort that sat for the NSC Grade 12 examinations at the centre. According to the Brandvlei Youth Centre they were also the first group to experience the realities of the Covid-19 pandemic for two consecutive years. The class of 2021 must indeed be praised for their resilience.
Learners experienced a reasonably stable academic year in Grade 12, but lost more than 50% of their Grade 11 academic year due to the pandemic. This had adverse consequences because the critical foundation that is laid in Grade 11, in preparation for Grade 12, was weakened.
According to Manual Rooms, Communications Manager for the Department of Correctional Services at Brandvlei, the department introduced education and training programmes for offenders as an effective rehabilitation tool and as such, a fundamental supportive tool in the correctional system.
“Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola announced the department’s Grade 12 results on Monday, 24 January at the Barberton correctional facility in Mpumalanga. The announcement and awards ceremony are held annually to acknowledge and celebrate the hard work and dedication of both learners and educators,” says Rooms.
Rooms says that three students from Brandvlei Youth Centre Independent School, Khanyile Faba, Vuyo Daba, currently on parole, and Ndumiso Stimela were invited to attend this auspicious occasion in Barberton. Faba achieved an 88,7% pass with a whopping seven distinctions. More significantly, he aced 99% for Business Studies. Daba achieved 81,71%, with five distinctions and 2 B-symbols, while Stimela passed with 72,71% and two distinctions.
“The 94,7 % pass rate attained by Brandvlei YCIS comprises nine bachelor, seven diploma and two certificate passes. The centre also achieved a 100% pass rate for five consecutive years in the following five subjects: Afrikaans and isiXhosa Home Language, English 1st Additional Language, Life Orientation and Tourism. The centre also managed to improve the pass rate in the following subjects: Business Studies (with 2,8% to 89,5%), Life Sciences (with 21,7% to 84,2%) and Mathematical Literacy (with 13,4% to 94,7%),” explains Rooms.
The school scooped an array of accolades. Educators, learners and the centre received certificates and trophies for their achievements:. Best Learner performer in IsiXhosa with 84%. Best Learner performer in Business Studies with 99%. Best Learner performer in Life Sciences with 90%. Best Learner performer in Tourism with 93%. School with the 2nd highest improvement rate of 25,95%. Learner with the highest number of distinctions (seven distinctions). Learner who achieved the third highest average percentage pass rate of 81,71%. Learner who has achieved the highest average percentage pass rate of 88,71%. Region with the third best results. Brandvlei YCIS is the only correctional services school in the Western Cape region that follows the NSC Grade 10-12 curriculum.
Rooms says that the success of the school can be attributed to the continued partnership between the school and the Cape Winelands Education district office, the support from the DCS regional management board, Brandvlei executive management and the dedication of its educators, learners and officials involved.
“Education and training within the correctional system remains a societal issue, which requires all stakeholders to fully participate in taking collective responsibility.
“The expectation of the school also remains for all learners to be able to pass Grade 12 and the school will not stop to contest for the 100% pass rate,” adds Rooms.
