Allen Glen High School Class of 2020 had all the reasons to be over the moon on Tuesday, 23 February, after achieving excellent matric results amid a tough and disruptive year caused by the coronavirus.
The school attained an impressive 96,3 per cent pass rate – an achievement the school’s management deemed praiseworthy .
“Covid presented a lot of challenges and numerous barriers that our learners had to break down in order to achieve these remarkable results,” the deputy principal Leon du Toit said as he reflected on the results.
The school achieved a 65 per cent bachelor’s pass, which meant about 135 learners are eligible to study at university. Although there was a slight decrease in the results compared to last year, Leon felt the results were justifiable.
“Although the overall pass rate is less by almost a percentage, the group performed above expectation. Once people realised the effects of Covid, it was a galvanising. We had to adapt to a lot of online teaching and gather our resources together to make it possible. We also cannot ignore the fact that some learners could not afford data. The results are also a testament to efforts that were put in by the teachers once teaching and learning resumed,” he highlighted some of the challenges.
Defying all the challenges are the school’s top achievers Katleho Mahlatsi and Lesedi Sepeng, who both attributed their success to online programmes and hard work. These extremely relieved and thrilled pals, who plan on furthering their studies at the University of the Western Cape, had Accounting as their common achievement among their distinctions. Katleho achieved two, while Lesedi attained an impressive five distinctions.
“Fortunately for us, we were able to access online learning through YouTube and other platforms, thanks to the internet connection at home. WOZA Matrics on television also prepared us quite well for the examination,” the duo said.
As the class paves a new journey into their lives, the school’s headmaster, Jane Kruger conveyed her good wishes to this group. “If they could survive Covid and pass Grade 12, then the world is at their feet; they can achieve anything they want to achieve,” she said.
She added that this class definitely will go down in history as the group that first had to navigate their way through Covid amid all the challenges, including the death of family members and the lockdown, among the pool of challenges they faced.
A proud Jane concluded by boasting about the Johannesburg West District which Allen Glen falls under, that was ranked second in the country with 88,1 per cent, one percent behind the Tshwane South District.
