Toti matrics wow!

It was smiles all-round at local schools as Amanzimtoti High School celebrated a 100% pass rate in the 2015 matric exams and two Kingsway High School pupils, Shenice Pillay and Theolin Naicker tied for the top matric position with a 92.3% aggregate on Wednesday, 6 January.

Amanzimtoti High School last boasted similar results in 2005 and 2011.

“No words can describe the happiness and joy at our amazing results, considering all that has gone on in education. When I saw the overall KZN pass rate, my expectations were not high, but when I learnt it was 100%, it was just ‘wow’. The results are due to team work between parents, teachers and students,” said deputy principal, Rose Hughes.

Top pupil was 2015 Dux, Lindelwa Mabaso with an 85% aggregate. She achieved A symbols in English, isiZulu, life orientation, physical science, life science and geography and a B in maths.

Hot on her heels with an 84% aggregate was Ashley Heath with As in English, Afrikaans, life orientation, accounting, business studies and life science and a B in maths, which she will send for a remark.

“I thought I did really badly because I was tired during finals, after being unwell while writing trials. I am very happy with my results.”

Ashley has not decided on a career path as yet, but is thinking of doing something in the medical field.

Rounding off the top three with an 83% aggregate was Shannon Steyn with A’s in Afrikaans, life orientation and visual arts.

Overall 131 matrics sat for the finals and earned 146 subject As and 151 subject Bs

At Kingsway High School Theolin scored eight distinctions, but as one was for add maths which is not a departmental subject, his aggregate was tied to seven decimal places with Shenice’s seven distinctions.

“I was expecting eight As, but I was a bit doubtful towards the end as I was worried about English and add maths. It was a nice surprise to see I got a full house,” said Theolin, who was also the school’s Dux. He will study acturial science through a full scholarship at Stellenbosch University.

“I was expecting to do well and get seven As,” said Shenice, who will study business science at the University of Cape Town. “It is very exciting to be in a new city and new place. It will be very challenging, but amazing.”

Imraan Mansoor scored a full house of seven distinctions from seven subjects for an 87% aggregate. “I was expecting seven, but I was worried about maths and physics at the end so it was a relief,” said Imraan, who will study medicine at either the University of Cape Town or the Witwatersrand.

Kingsway’s Keshlen Naidu also scored eight distinctions, with 98% for maths and celebrated a 86% aggregate. “I was kind of expecting a full house, as I put in a lot of hard work. I wasn’t expecting such high marks though. I was surprised by physics, as I was expecting mid 80s, but got in the 90s.”

Keshlen will study acturial science at the University of Cape Town.

At Kingsway 140 pupils (73%) achieved a bachelor pass, 47 pupils (24%) achieved a diploma pass and six pupils (3%) achieved a higher certificate pass. Of the 199 pupils who wrote matric exams, six failed to give the school a 97% pass rate.

“We are delighted with our 2015 matric results which have exceeded all expectations,” said acting principal, Veronika Brits. “Well done to our top learners – 20 have received four or more distinctions, with 306 distinctions overall.

There were regrettably six failures, but several of them did have real personal challenges which they have had to deal with. All qualify for supplementary exams.”

The top matric at Kuswag Skool was Trix Neethling who got seven distinctions out of eight subjects she wrote for an 85% aggregate.

The school’s Dux will study law at the University of Pretoria.

“I was hoping for seven distinctions, but expecting six as I was worried about business studies. I’m surprised and very happy and grateful to be the school’s Dux. I got over 90% for five subjects, so I’m quite satisfied and I got over 60% for maths, so I’m not unhappy about anything.”

Alicia Cusack scored an 83% aggregate for five distinctions to claim second place at Kuswag. “I’m very happy with my results, as I was only expecting three As. Afrikaans and science too me by surprise,” said Alicia, who will study biology and physiology at the University of Potchefstroom.

Third was Lana van der Walt who scored four distinctions and an 80.5% aggregate.

JP Stydom got five distinctions and an 80% aggregate, while Alicia Prinsloo scored four distinctions for a 79% aggregate.

At Kuswag two pupils failed out of the 80 who wrote their matric exams to give the school a 97.5% pass rate, 66 subject distinctions and nine B aggregate passes.

“We are never happy with any failures and we will support those pupils with re-marks,” said acting head of department, Linda Coertze. “Last year we also had two failures and those pupils passed when they re-wrote, to give us a 1005 pass rate.”

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