Matric pupils enrolled in the Protec Tongaat education programme achieved a 100% matric pass rate for the 2023 academic year.

Protec offers a career enrichment programme which promotes math, science and technological literacy for pupils in grades 10, 11 and 12.

The top achievers were Andile Xaba and Nosipho Ngcobo who each earned seven distinctions.

All 34 pupils passed with a bachelor’s degree (university) pass, collectively claiming 75 distinctions.

Ngcobo received 85% for mathematics, 80% for physics, 86% for Afrikaans, 81% for life sciences, 90% for geography, 87% for life orientation and 81% for English.

The 18-year-old said what motivated her was the eagerness to make her mother proud and be an example to her peers in the rural area of Emona.

Ngcobo woke up at about 2am every day and studied before leaving for Seatides Combined School at 6pm.

“My mother always told me she wanted to be a nurse, but had to abandon her dream when she got pregnant.

She cried when the results came out. I want to make her proud and give her the best life,” said Ngcobo, who hopes to pursue a career in health sciences.

Seventeen-year-old Xaba from Zwelisha, an informal settlement near Phoenix, achieved 93% for mathematics, 93% for physics, 87% for life sciences, 99% for accounting, 96% for IsiZulu, 88% for English and 91% for life orientation.

She said she was motivated by her desire to change her home situation. Her main goal is to buy her parents a house and move them from the informal settlement.
Her mother is unemployed and her father works part-time jobs.

Her mother used her child support grant for Xaba’s school transport and her father would help with food and weekend travel to Protec.

“I am from an informal settlement and it’s very noisy, I depended on my headset to block the noise and concentrate on my schoolwork. My parents did not have much but they were fully behind me. My goal now is to study medicine and help them and give them the world,” said Xaba.

The two praised Protec Tongaat for the support they have been receiving.

“They do their best to prepare us for the outside world and their support is just outstanding,” said Ngcobo.

Protec Tongaat manager Marion Takis said the exceptional results highlighted the expertise and dedication of their tutors and the determination of their pupils.

“The most important thing about these results is that they enable pupils to access tertiary education and pursue meaningful careers. We are particularly thankful to our generous sponsors who have invested in our pupils’ education to give them hope for a bright future,” said Takis.

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