Progressed pupils impact stats

Minerva Secondary School said the moderate pass results for its 2016 matrics was due to the high number of those who were progressed from Grade 10 to matric, despite failing.

This was said by the school principal Nontsikelelo Tsatsi to Alex News when she explored measures to help the school achieve better results this year. The school obtained a 62 per cent overall pass mark in 2016, dropping by 3 per cent from the previous year.

Read: Alexandra’s brightest matrics rewarded

Tsatsi said 116 progressed pupils were part of the 253 who wrote the exams. “While some of them passed, most were part of the 24 who either dropped out, didn’t complete the examinations, or will write supplementary exams,” she said stressing that this, though, shouldn’t detract from others who passed – with two obtaining six distinctions, one five distinctions, two four distinctions and several others three and below. A total of 42 obtained bachelor’s entry, 65 achieved diplomas and 37 higher certificates.

Tsatsi said she noticed that despite the extra afternoon classes, weekend and holiday tutorials, most pupils lacked an independent study mentality and grasp of subject concepts to support them when studying alone. “This was reflected through their incoherent answers to questions in the examinations,” Tsatsi said.

Read: School analyses matric results

She appealed to parents to supervise and monitor their children’s study at home, help improve their attitude towards schoolwork and shield them from the many social distractions and negative influences such as substance abuse. Also, she stressed that they would emphasise attendance, encourage the use of local libraries and for feeder schools to produce disciplined pupils who will be able to cope at secondary level. She further encouraged team teaching to enable teachers to complement each other and, to intensify children’s exposure to past question papers.

Details: Minerva Secondary School 011 882 1734.