The occasion was in honour of the Grade 12 learners, teachers, schools and circuits which performed well in the 2017 Grade 12 finals examinations.

Nkowankowa Circuit was named the Best Circuit within the municipality under the leadership of Doreen Manzini.

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Kumbirai Chikavhanga, a St Georges College Teacher, won the Best Teacher Award in Mathematics after producing a 100% pass rate.

“I’m happy about the award but we are expecting an even greater pass rate for this year.

“The real heroes here are the learners, because they worked tirelessly last year, by participating in the extra classes during the weekends and holidays,” Chikavhanga explained.

Lepulana Kabi, from St Georges College took the award for being the Best Learner from an Independent School in the municipality and overall in the Limpopo Province.

Joya Varughese, St Georges College Headmaster, said that the success of the school is formed through hard work, discipline and God’s grace from both the learners and the teachers.

The keynote speaker was Councillor Cassius Machimana, who commended the Department of Education on the improvements in the pass rate.

“As a country we have improved in terms of the Grade 12 pass rate, in 1997 we were at 47.4% and now we are currently at 75,1%, which shows that we are on the right track.

“I’m happy that also for the first time this year, first year learners in tertiary institutions they will get free education.

This is the realisation of the Free Education bill in the 1955 Freedom Charter,” said Machimana.

Modupa Circuit was named the best improved circuit with a 9.4% increase followed by Nkowankowa Circuit with a 7.72% increase and Thabina circuit taking position three with a 6.6% increase.

Absa Bank and Old Mutual were the awards sponsors and they also took turns in congratulating the learners on their great achievements.