The Upswing programme was started and hosted by Hoërskool Noordheuwel to lend a helping hand to learners from other schools in need and help boost their academic prowess.
On Saturdays, learners from all over attend extra academic classes to improve their grades, and to be taught how to study more effectively. Teachers from Noordheuwel give up some of their personal time to teach learners from township schools, and their efforts have yielded impressive results.
Shortly after the Matric Top Achievers Awards had been handed over to the best-performing schools in Gauteng, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) and Noordheuwel hosted an awards ceremony for the top-performing schools in the Gauteng West District, with a special focus on schools participating in Upswing.
Speaker Ntutu Mathibe said, “Out of all of these sectors, we are here to celebrate your good work. The teachers gave up their time to teach other children on weekends.”
Firstly, certificates of appreciation were handed over to transport drivers C Gouws, H Nooris, T Gouws and T Lindeque who transported learners to and from the school on Saturdays.
Teachers K Erasmus (Life Sciences), L de Beer (Physical Sciences), N le Roux (Mathematics Literacy), S Pretorius (Accounting) and C Retief (Mathematics) received certificates for their hard work during the programme.
Awards for Excellence Performance among schools were handed out next to Kagiso Senior Secondary School with a 94,2 per cent pass rate, Madiba Comprehensive School with 93,3 per cent, Mandisa Shiceka with 92,6 per cent, Krugersdorp High School (ranked 14th in the province) with 96,2 per cent and Hoërskool Bastion with 97,8 per cent.
Bastion has lodged an appeal to possibly receive a higher mark.
Trophies were handed over to SG Mafaesa Secondary School for Best Township High School and Best Improved High School, having improved their pass rate from 81 to 97,7 per cent. UniHigh received the Best Improved Independent School award for an 81 per cent pass rate.
Hoërskool Noordheuwel, with a 100 per cent pass rate and 94 per cent bachelor’s admissions was awarded the Best Town High School trophy.
