Improved outcomes in education lauded
Khutsalani High School in KaBokweni was announced the overall best-performing school in MLM. It also has the learners with the highest bachelors' degree pass rate.
MBOMBELA – On Friday the local municipality held the inaugural Mayoral Excellence Awards ceremony at the civic centre to show appreciation for outstanding learners of the quantile one to three schools’ matric group of 2015.
Teachers were also awarded accolades for their contribution to the academic life of learners.
The Ehlanzeni District, which covers the Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM), has also been hailed as the best- performing district in the province with an 82,39 per cent pass rate, an improvement from the 82,1 obtained in 2014.
Khutsalani High School in KaBokweni was announced the overall best-performing school in MLM. It also has the learners with the highest bachelors’ degree pass rate.
In maths and science, Thapelo Makofane of Lekazi Secondary School was declared the best pupil in maths and science, respectively.
MEC for education in the province, Ms Reginah Mhaule, said schools were making positive strides to improve learner outcomes.
“Our circuit managers have their hands on the deck, working around the clock to ensure that the province remains proud of the way education is delivered in this part of our country,” Mhaule said.
She also said that it was wonderful to note that for the first time in history, more than 43 000 matriculants had passed in Mpumalanga.
Mhaule also used her keynote address to lament the premature resignation of teachers, said to be based on unfounded rumours relating to the new tax dispensation.
“I pledge here that our department is willing to work with our teachers, their unions and non-governmental organisations to devise a programme that will address their welfare, including financial literacy.”
In addition, the department is working on a process to accelerate the provision of new school sites as well as improve the water and electricity supply to institutions.
The MEC mentioned that some private schools were not excelling as they should and the department was open to work with them in improving their performances.
“We cannot say they are not under the jurisdiction of the government so we must not assist them.
It’s our children who are studying there and we have to come on board and help them improve,” concluded Mhaule.
