Denver Secondary School principal Langa Mhlanga said he is proud of the matric class of 2018.
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“We received a 100 per cent pass rate from 95 learners. The learners committed themselves in the beginning of the year to pass and also set goals they wanted to achieve and they did.
“The teachers played an important role in working closely with them and pushing where they were lacking. I would like to thank the teachers and wish the learners all the best in their future plans,” said Mhlanga.
Denver Secondary is classified as a quintile-five school, meaning learners who attend the school should be able to afford the fees.
“Because of how we are ranked by the department, we compete with schools that have resources and manpower which they can afford. But our reality is that although we are in a suburban area, we are a very disadvantaged school. People who live in the area can’t all afford the school fees.
“We have those challenges, but we look beyond them and have to put our learners in the right state of mind so that we can compete with best schools and can also be the best,” said Mhlanga.
He said he is passionate about the Grade 11 and matric learners because they are entering a new chapter of their lives where guidance is needed in order for them to make informed decisions.
“I take them under my wing and keep a close eye on them. We help them to be goal oriented so they know they are working towards something and why that is important. If you create a competitive environment for them, they work hard and want to do more and achieve more,” explained Mhlanga.
He said he wants learners to leave the school with a purpose and opportunities.
“I tell them when the year starts that we don’t just pass and get certificates. I would love to see them get good marks to able to go through varsity. Learners need to know how important it is to get good marks,” said Mhlanga.
The EXPRESS asked him how they prepare learners for exams.
“Sharing knowledge is powerful. I work with different schools such as Jeppe Boys and other schools in the area. We look at teachers who are good in a particular subject and they come in and tackle a topic that learners might be struggling with,” he responded.
“We also help them plan their study time. During exam time they still come to school and teachers work with them. This allows them to really address issues they feel they need to improve on,” said Mhlanga.
He said the school is looking for sponsors for a science lab. Anyone who is willing to sponsor the project can call him on 081 233 0246.
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