Matric merriment

Theano Mckenzie, Mondale High School matriculant, points us his name on the pass list.

While matric results across the country have taken a knock, Mitchell’s Plain schools have done well, with two of them achieving 100% pass rates.

The two are independent school Darul Arqam Islamic High in Eastridge, which had 53 candidates pass the exam; and Spine Road High, in Rocklands, whose 193 candidates all passed.

In 2015, the Rocklands school became the first public school in Mitchell’s Plain to achieve a pass rate of 100%.

The school also scored 100% pass rates in accounting (67 candidates), economics (45 candidates), geography (106 candidates), history (44 candidates), mathematics (80 candidates) and mathematical literacy (117 candidates).

Top Spine Road High pupil La’eeqa Martin, from Portland, who achieved seven subject distinctions, told the Plainsman she could not have done it without the support of principal Riyaadh Najaar, teachers and their belief in her abilities.

“More so, it is the friends that I have made at Spine Road High, who have humbled me and kept me sane and who I hope to keep moving forward (with). Those are the factors and individuals at Spine Road High that have contributed to my success,” she said.

She plans to complete a Bachelor of Science degree, with the intention of majoring in genetics at the University of Cape Town.

“The advice that I have for the matric class of 2018 is to seize every opportunity that comes their way but more so, to just have fun and enjoy the year as there will be many milestones within this year alone. They’re gonna be hearing the whole ‘work hard’ mantra from everyone anyway…so why should I repeat it?” she said.

Not far behind, was Mondale High School, in Portland, whose Class of 2017 achieved a pass rate of 98.6% (214 out of 217 candidates passed).

Principal Owen Bridgens said he was happy with the results but rebuked three pupils, one of whom failed English and two others, who failed two subjects, and urged them to apply for remarks.

“If you don’t have discipline, you will fail. It is a fact,” he said.

“Mondale was supposed to get 100% but three students failed to come to the party. I must add we’ve had weak students, exceptionally weak students and they passed. There was no reason why the other students should’ve failed.”

Mr Bridgens said the school’s final percentage is not in yet.

“It will only be done once the remarks are in,” he said.

He said in 2015, the school achieved 100 percent after two pupils had their scripts remarked.

Top Mondale High pupil, Yazeed Tyman, 17, from Portland, who achieved seven subject distinctions, said the matric class of 2018 should start “preparing from day one”.

“The internet has an abundance of resources available so do not only depend on what you do in class,” he said.

Yazeed who will be studying toward a Bachelor of Accounting degree (BAcc) at Stellenbosch University, advised pupils to have a plan.

“A monthly (planner) one is great because you can really see all upcoming events – which is great for balancing your social, academic and extramural life,” he said.

Runner-up Fadeelah Abdullah, from Portland, with six subject distinctions, will be joining Yazeed at SU but will be studying BCom mathematical science.

She shared her tips for achieving good results: “Work hard, believe in yourself and just go ahead and try your best.

“What definitely helped me was making comprehensive, summarised notes of the content early on already so that when final exams came, I didn’t have to frantically make notes – which saved a lot of time.”

“Also, try and work through as many past papers – you can never do enough. These are great tools as they assist you in strengthening your knowledge in a particular learning area and help you figure out what you are struggling with.

“Lastly, ensure that your planning is realistic and try to follow it strictly to ensure that all tasks are completed timeously,” she said.

Just down the road, Portland High took third place with a pass rate of 96.5% (167 out of 173 candidates passed) compared to its 98.7% (137 out of 139) in 2016.

One of the top 10 matriculants at the school, Akeefah Segers, 18, from Portland, who gave birth in April, hopes to become a teacher because she wants to inspire children.

She has applied to study at UCT.

“I just want to tell fellow pupils, having a baby doesn’t stop you from living or fulfilling your dreams. It is not the end of the world. Everyone makes mistakes. In fact it was a blessing and a lesson,” she said.

Metro South Education District (MSED) director Glen van Harte congratulated the district for achieving a 82.2%pass rate (6463 out of 7861 candidates passed), with 3021 pupils having achieved Bachelor’s passes.

To achieve a Bachelor’s pass candidates must pass six of the seven subjects offered, excluding life orientation.

This would include home language with a compulsory pass of 40 percent; a 30 percent pass in language of learning and teaching (LOLT).

They must achieve 50% (level 4) in four subjects from the seven subjects offered, from designated subject groups, namely accounting, agricultural science, business studies, consumer studies, dramatic arts, economics or engineering graphics and design; geography, history, information technology, languages, life sciences, mathematics, mathematical literacy or music; or physical science, religion studies or visual arts.

Mr Van Harte said several of the schools in the district were affected by gangsterism and huge pupil numbers.

The district incorporates a total of 56 schools in areas stretching from the southern suburbs to Khayelitsha.

Four of these schools underperformed, with a pass rate below 60%. Only one of them is in Mitchell’s Plain – AZ Berman High School with a pass rate of 57.8% (37 out of 64 candidates passed).

The department will assess these schools’ results and decide whether they require further resources.

It was AZ Berman High’s first matric class, since opening its doors in 2013, on the grounds of Tafelsig High School (“Spirits high at new school,” Plainsman January 23, 2013).

The under-performing schools increased by two since 2016 but they are not the same schools.

Fifteen of the 17 high schools in Mitchell’s Plain achieved pass rates of more than 70%.

In the district, 13 of the 56 schools achieved pass rates of under 70%.

He said it was disappointing that the district’s results had dropped by 2.4% but added that he understood the challenges the schools faced.

“Yes, we did drop but not more than the province, who dropped by 3.4% from 2016,” he said.

Results in the province dropped from 86% in 2016 to 82.8% last year.

Results at a glance:

Independent School Darul Arqam Islamic High in Eastridge has a pass rate of 100%(53 candidates passed) compared to its 94.3% (33 out of 35 candidates passed) in 2016.

Spine Road High, in Rocklands, has a pass rate of 100% (193 candidates passed) compared to its 98.7% (223 out of 220 candidates) in 2016.

Mondale High School in Portland has a pass rate of 98.6% (214 out of 217 candidates passed) compared to its 99.6% (239 out of 238 candidates passed) in 2016.

Portland High has a pass rate of 96.5% (167 out of 173 candidates passed) compared to its 98.7% (137 out of 139) in 2016.

Glendale High in Rocklands has a pass rate of 92.1% (128 out of 139 candidates passed) 92.3% (120 out of 130 candidates passed) in 2016.

Oval North High in Beacon Valley has a pass rate of 90.8% (148 out of 163 candidates passed) compared to its 94.5% (155 of 164 candidates passed) in 2016.

Westridge High has a pass rate of 88.8% (119 out of 134 candidates passed) compared to its 77.4% (120 out of 155 candidates passed) in 2016.

Woodlands High has a pass rate of 87.9% (51 out of 58 candidates passed) compared to its 55.7% (39 out of 70 candidates passed) in 2016.

Aloe High in Lentegeur has a pass rate of 87.2% (130 out of 149 candidates passed) compared to its 66.7% (92 out of 138 candidates passed) in 2016.

Beacon Hill High in Beacon Valley, has a pass rate of 87% (100 out of 115 candidates passed) compared to its 78% (96 out of 123 candidates passed) in 2016.

Rocklands High has a pass rate of 86.5% (211 out of 244 candidates passed) compared to its 94.2% (212 out of 225 candidates passed) in 2016.

Cedar High in Rocklands has a pass rate of 76.7% (115 out of 150 candidates passed) compared to its 82.2% (139 out of 169 candidates) in 2016.

Tafelsig High has a pass rate of 75% (132 out of 176 candidates passed) compared to its 93.2% (109 out of 117 candidates passed) in 2016.

Princeton High in Woodlands, has a pass rate of 71.6% (101 out of 141 candidates passed) compared to its 76.6% (118 out of 154 candidates passed) in 2016.

Strandfontein High School has a pass rate of 71.3% (77 out of 108 candidates) compared to its 93.2% (96 out of 103 candidates passed) in 2016.

Lentegeur High has a pass rate of 68.7% (112 out of 163 candidates passed) compared to its 83.8% (134 out of 160 candidates passed) in 2016.

AZ Berman High School, the new high school built on the grounds of Tafelsig High School, had its first matric class with a 57.8% pass rate (37 out of 64 candidates passed).