Matric Class of 2014 fares well

IN line with both the national and provincial matric results, Ugu District’s 2014 matric pass rate has taken a dip, but it retains its fifth position out of the 12 districts in KwaZulu-Natal.

Ugu District’s class of 2014 managed a commendable 72,5 percent pass rate, down 2,7 percent from last year’s 75,2 percent but above the provincial average of 69,7 percent. KwaZulu-Natal’s 2014 pass rate represents a considerable decrease of 7.7 percent, from the 77.4 percent pass rate the province achieved last year. This puts it in a worrying eighth place out of nine provinces.

The national rate was 75.8 percent, down 2,4 percent from the previous year. Top of the class was Gauteng with 84,7 percent but even this high achieving province’s 2014 results have dropped by 2.3 percent.

At a more local level, there were some high achievers among our Port Shepstone schools. Top scorer was Port Shepstone Secondary, with a 99.36 pass rate. Two pupils from this school had seven distinctions. They were Suhail Gangat, who was placed second in the district and Ishq Ramsaroop, who was placed fifth.

Port Shepstone High boasted an impressive pass rate of 98,3 percent. Top pupil at this school was Bianka Thom who, with eight distinctions, was placed fourth in the district. She earned over 90 percent for two of these subjects. Marburg Secondary was another bright star, with a 97 percent pass rate. With six distinctions, Siyasanga Kohli was Marburg’s top pupil.

Merlewood posted a satisfactory 80 percent pass rate with Sphesihle Ndelu’s six As and a B putting him in first place at this school. Suid-Natal High School pass rate was 76.31 percent. Top pupil was Vian du Plessis, who achieved four distinctions.

It was not only urban schools that shone in the Ugu District. One of the most impressive performances came from a rural school. The matric pupils at Nombuso High managed a praiseworthy 97,2 percent pass rate. Top pupil Lerato Jaca not only managed to obtain six distinctions but earned an astounding 99 percent for maths. Placed third in the district she also received a ‘Top Learner Against Adversity ‘ award and she has just heard the exciting news that she has received a full bursary to study medicine at the University of Cape Town.

The top matriculant in the Ugu District was a Scottburgh High pupil, Henika Ramsamy .

The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nomusa Dube–Ncube, has congratulated the matric class of 2014 and all those involved in education in the province. She singled out MEC for Education, Peggy Nkonyeni for her leadership in the implementation of the new curriculum.

Although the matric pass rate had dropped, government had introduced a new curriculum last year, she pointed out. She was optimistic teachers would become more accustomed to it this year, she said.

Every matriculant who passed was a winner, she said, urging those who did not manage to get university admission marks to consider other alternatives to further their education. South Africa needed artisans, nurses, paramedics and other skilled people. Many matriculants faced bright futures by studying through further education and training colleges.