Taxila Secondary School Principal, Caphius Ramara was among others who were acknowledged by Capricorn Mayor, John Mpe during the Capricorn District Municipality’s Mayoral Outreach Educational Awards Ceremony to celebrate the achievement of the top performing schools in the district recently.
“We thank the principal of Dendron Secondary School, Moloko Matsapola and the Principal of Taxila Secondary School, Caphius Ramara for their hard work and whose philosophy, leadership and passion for excellence continues to inspire and make us proud.
“These awards must therefore be seen in the context of promoting and rewarding excellence for improved performance by schools and their learners; and should serve as motivation for those who follow them.”
Mpe says the 64,3% and 72,3% pass rates achieved in Capricorn North and Capricorn South respectively in 2020 is a huge feat and a brilliant milestone considering the difficult, trying times that teachers and learners worked under.
“We are therefore pleased and proud that over the years we have seen a steady, consistent improvement in the matric results in both Capricorn North and South. From 58% in 2017 to 64,3% in 2020 in Capricorn North. The consistency has been the same in Capricorn South with an improvement of 60,1% in 2017 to 72,3% in 2020. This picture tells us that we are certainly on the right path and not far off the mark.
“I can confidently say we now close to reclaiming our historical top spot from Vhembe District and if we keep it up, we will soon be number one in the province and sustain our vision as the Home of Excellence.”
Mpe says the district continues to be inspired by the good performance of Dendron Secondary School and Taxila Secondary School who received the awards, as well as many other schools that have been consistent over the years.
Mpe reiterated that the difference between performing and under-performing schools is discipline and leadership.
“I am thankful to these principals for being available to share their expertise with other schools.”
In her keynote address, Education MEC, Polly Bosheilo says at one stage she and Premier Chupu Mathabatha spoke of how they would be satisfied with a 50% pass rate due to the effect of the lockdown on the academic year and, “the achievement of 68,2% just comes to show that the province would have been in the 80’s had the academic year not been cut short”.
Boshielo says she will continue to fight for quality education in the province.
“Some of us were taught under trees and although I do not want that for my children sometimes we are forced to work with what we have.
“There are many battles that I am fighting for these learners behind the scenes, such as the reduced standardisation of Sepedi and Tshivenda, along with the rollout of e-education in the province.”
The top 15 learners from schools in the district were awarded prizes and given laptops and goodie bags from FNB, while the top three learners received cash prizes, printers, laptops and laptop bags from the district.
