Nthetsheleseni Secondary School achieves 99.1% pass rate
Nthetsheleseni Secondary School achieves a 99.1% pass rate under David Mammburu's leadership, transforming dysfunction to academic excellence.
LIMPOPO – Nthetsheleseni Secondary School near Sibasa has undergone a remarkable transformation under the leadership of its principal, David Mammburu. Once labelled dysfunctional, the school is now celebrated for producing outstanding matric results and inspiring its community.
In 2024, 108 matric learners wrote their final exams, achieving an impressive 99.1% pass rate, with 53 learners earning bachelor passes. Only one learner did not make the grade. This success builds on previous years, with a 90.3% pass rate in 2022 and 93.9% in 2023.
Mammburu attributes this turnaround to “hard work, commitment, and dedication to schoolwork” from both teachers and learners, as well as encouragement from parents. “With these results, we’ve received accolades from local traditional leaders, parents, and the Department of Education. We’re determined to keep working hard and inspire other schools to prioritise discipline and excellence,” he said.
The school’s enrolment has skyrocketed from 380 in 2017 to 1 200 learners in 2024, as parents now seek to enrol their children here because of the school’s improvement.
When Mammburu first arrived at Nthetsheleseni in 2017, the school was in a state of disrepair and struggled with years of sub-50% matric pass rates. To turn things around, he introduced morning and afternoon lessons and instilled a culture of discipline, ensuring learners stayed focused during school hours.
“From day one, I committed to transforming this school into one of the province’s shining stars,” he said. “I engaged with traditional leaders and the community, emphasising that education is a shared responsibility between teachers, learners, and parents.”
Despite its successes, the school faces significant challenges with infrastructure. “Our buildings are old and falling apart. Ceilings leak during rainy days, making lessons difficult. While we’ve received six mobile classrooms from the Department of Education, it’s not enough. We need a state-of-the-art facility, including an administration block and a computer centre with Wi-Fi, so learners can fully engage with modern learning resources,” Mammburu explained.
He said he was optimistic following a visit by Department of Education head Martin Mashaba, who witnessed the school’s poor infrastructure firsthand. Mammburu is hopeful this visit will lead to much-needed improvements.
