East private school learners celebrate outstanding matric results

Learners, teachers and parents celebrated their outstanding matric results at Woodhill College, a school in the east of Pretoria, on January 12.

It was a moment of joy, pride and celebrations as learners were dancing and chanting as reality kicked in that they had finally finished their school journeys.

The Independent Examinations Board (IEB) announced a pass rate of 98.31% and released the matric results on Monday.

For the learners, the results are more than marks on a page; they represent years of dedication, resilience, and hard work, supported by teachers, family, and the school community.

The school’s head boy, Rifumo Ceko, who obtained seven distinctions, said he was thrilled to have passed matric, despite a challenging year balancing schoolwork, leadership duties, and responsibilities at home.

“I am so happy to have passed matric. This year was difficult because I had to balance schoolwork with my duties as head boy, to lead by example, and also manage things at home. I could not have done it without the support of my teachers and my family. Some teachers went out of their way to help learners, even on weekends or at night,” he said.

Ceko plans to study medicine, inspired by his love for biology, science, and helping people, and he credits his mother as a role model for his ambition.

He also enjoys investigating, which further fuels his curiosity for science.

Fellow matriculant Simakade Msimang, who achieved eight distinctions, said he is excited and ready to study medicine, driven by a dream of helping people and making a positive impact in the healthcare field.

“This year was a bit difficult because I took on an extra subject. I realised there’s nothing better than planning your time well, sticking to a schedule, and studying consistently rather than leaving everything to the last minute,” he said.

While Mojoyin Irinoye, the second-highest achiever of the school with eight distinctions and an average of 89.71%, said she is relieved to have completed high school.

Irinoye said she is now deciding between Medicine and Engineering at the University of Pretoria.

“The hardest part of my matric year was balancing schoolwork, but the teachers gave us all the support we needed. They went the extra mile to help us succeed,” she said.

Cesc Mckenzie who earned five distinctions, said he plans to study a degree in finance, business, and IT.

Mckenzie said he hopes to one day own a business and create employment opportunities, while also equipping himself with information systems knowledge.

“I have always dreamt of owning a business one day, and with the degree I will get from UP it will surely prepare me for the entrepreneur field.”

Amogelang Pholoba achieved five distinctions and will pursue Law (LLB) at the University of Pretoria.

“Since Grade 6, I have dreamt of becoming a lawyer. Passing matric is the first step toward that dream. The school year was tough and time was limited, but with the support of my teachers, I was able to succeed,” she said.

Another top achiever, Shahil Ravjee, who also achieved five distinctions, expressed similar joy and gratitude.

Ravjee said his goal is to pursue Actuarial Science at Wits University and to make a difference in the science sector.

“This is such a proud moment for me. I have always loved numbers and science, and I want to use my skills to contribute meaningfully in the science field. I couldn’t have done this without the guidance of my teachers and the support of my family.”

The Executive Head of Woodhill College, Danie van Schalkwyk, said the school is privileged to have supportive parents, dedicated teachers, sufficient resources, and disciplined learners who worked extremely hard.

“Achieving a 100% pass rate is not a small feat, it is a huge milestone that the school intends to carry forward in the years to come. For our learners, passing matric is a new lease on life; it opens the door to their career paths,” he said.

He highlighted the school’s educational model.

“The Curro model is extremely effective. Learners are given a solid foundation from prep school, which continues in primary school, and is then cemented in high school. Our strategy is built on hard work, strong ethics, discipline, and support.

“There’s a heritage and culture of hard work passed down by those before us, combined with the passion of our teachers, dedication from learners, and support from parents. Together, these factors produce excellent results,” he said.

Van Schalkwyk praised the school’s ability to reach learners beyond the classroom.

“We are privileged to connect with learners even after school hours, including online sessions on Teams,” he said.

He said the teachers are well-equipped and supported by Curro, but it’s the dedication of the teachers and the learners’ hard work that made these results possible.

“We worked not just as a team, but as a family.”

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