LIMPOPO -This circuit had 757 candidates who wrote their final Gr 12 examinations of which 615 passed.
The MEC for the Department of Education, Ishmael Kgetjepe, said the circuit performed exceptionally well despite its schools having lost valuable teaching and learning time due to the unrest earlier in the year. He further said the Vhuronga-2 and Hlanganani North Circuits whose schools were also affected by the Vuwani unrest performed above the national norm of 60%.
“Edison Nesengani is one of the schools that benefitted from our matric camps organised for Vuwani learners. Vhudzanani Secondary School’s performance was average,” Kgetjepe said.
“In the same area of Vuwani – Elim, Rivoni School for the Blind is the best in the province and their learner Zacharia Nyathi is one of the candidates invited by the Minister of Education, Angie Motshega as one of the top achievers for the National Awards held in Midrand. The school produced a 100% pass.”
He said they worked around the clock in collaboration with all stakeholders to try and ensure that all is not lost under the circumstances which left learners caught in the crossfire. “We set up camps and also provided additional study material because we know our learners were unfortunate victims,” said Kgetjepe
PRO Makhado Group Spokesperson, Nsovo Sambo, said hadn’t the municipal demarcation board disturbed the people of Vuwani, learners could have produced an even higher pass rate. “We still stand firm against our incorporation into the Lim 345 municipality.
Although the new municipality exists, it doesn’t have authority over us.
“We are going to have a meeting on 16 January to discuss the way forward,” Sambo said.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadty) Provincial Secretary, Matome Raphasha, said this was all possible because of the efforts put in place and money allocated to purchase additional learning materials for the Vuwani learners by the department and donors.
“The learners’ catch-up programme was effective and that is why they did exceptionally well.
“If additional materials were also delivered to all five of the districts in Limpopo, the province would have been among the top performers regarding the pass rate,” he said.