Class of 2024: ‘You have made us proud’
Greenbury Secondary School learner, Cade Govender was announced as KwaZulu-Natal's top learner. He is heading to Wits University in 2025.
THE KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Class of 2024 has been praised for surpassing all expectations and defying the odds in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations after landing in second position overall in the country by scoring an impressive pass rate of 89.5%, marking an increase of 3.2% from 2023.
At the Durban ICC on Tuesday, January 15, the top matriculants in the province were gathered to hear the outcome of their hard work and to be recognised for putting KZN in a position to achieve their target of 90%. In a room full of their parents, educators, department officials MECs and ministers, the matriculants waited patiently to hear who scored the coveted position one.
With the wait finally being over, Caden Govender of Greenbury Secondary School in Phoenix was named as the number one matriculant in the province. Surrounded by his mother Lucy Govender and brother Damien, the 17-year-old from Phoenix said he was amazed by his achievements. He said, “I never expected this, it’s surreal right now. It’s amazing to be honest. Thank you to God, my mom, brother, and late father for all the support as well as my teachers and staff at Greenbury. There is a lot that I am grateful for.”
Also Read: Matric Class of 2024: Local schools in jubilation over results
Govender, who is headed to the University of Witswatersrand to study actuarial science, advised the Class of 2025 to find what works for them when studying for their matric exams. “Be yourself and be unique, and find your own methods. Don’t just rely on one method, find the right words for you,” added Govender.
His achievements and that of the rest of the Class of 2024 were also celebrated for their triumph by the KZN MEC for Education, Sipho Hlomuka, who congratulated the matriculants. He said, “The matric Class 2024 has navigated a path that was unlike any other in recent history. This remarkable group of young individuals we are honouring today traversed this path, facing unprecedented obstacles that tested their mettle. Despite the adversities, they stood tall, and today, we celebrate their triumph over the culmination of their 13-year educational voyage. We applaud their perseverance despite facing an unprecedented journey filled with challenges, victories, and transformative moments over the last decade. These experiences will shape not only your minds but also your character going forward. We are very proud of you, you have made us proud.”
In numbers the Class of 2024 achieved:
- Out of the 161 962 learners, 144 990 of them passed
- A total of 321 schools obtained a 100% pass rate
- All 12 districts performed above 80%
- Bachelor passes increased from 72099 in 2023 to 84470 in 2024
- UMkhanyakude remained in the top spot for the second year with a 92.8% pass rate
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