South Coast matrics are smiling
All high schools in Port Shepstone achieved over 90 percent pass rates.
UGU district’s class of 2013 registered a commendable 75,2 percent matric pass rate, up from 72 percent last year and marginally below the KwaZulu-Natal pass rate of 77.4 percent, the fifth highest provincial result.
The pass rates were above 90 percent for all the public high schools in Port Shepstone. This is well above the national pass rate of 78,2 percent.
Although he is pleased with the 2013 results, Nkosinathi Madadi, the chief educational specialist for the Department of Basic Education, Port Shepstone area, will expect more from the class of 2014. He has set a high target of 80 percent for this year.
He said two public schools, Sithuthukile and Sizathina, both in the Scottburgh area, and two independent schools whose pupils had written the national matric exams, Westbury College and the Islamic School in Port Shepstone, had achieved 100 percent pass rates.
High schools in Port Shepstone had plenty of reasons to celebrate. Port Shepstone High obtained a 98 percent pass rate, with a commendable 90 percent of the successful candidates qualifying for entry into university.
Its top pupil, Trish Naidu, obtained seven distinctions and was placed third in the district.
With 231 distinctions from its 176 candidates and a 95,45 pass rate, Port Shepstone Secondary had reason to be proud of its results. Vishiven Appalraju, with eight distinctions, achieved the highest marks and was placed fifth in Ugu district.
Marburg Secondary also achieved excellent results, notching up a 95 percent pass rate and 201 subject distinctions from its 253 candidates, 53 percent of whom attained university entrance. With eight distinctions, Noluthando Mpungose was the highest Marburg achiever.
Suid-Natal boasted a praiseworthy 93 percent pass rate, a slight decline since the previous year.
Merlewood Secondary matric pupils did their school proud. Their 92 percent pass rate represents a massive 32 percent improvement over the previous year’s results and a complete turnaround for the school. Siphesihle Maphumulo, with five distinctions, was the school’s top achiever.
