“My heart is racing. I am relieved and anxious. The wait is finally over and I am happy with my matric results.”
So, describes Khanyisile Tafeni, as she received her matric results at Holy Cross High School in Maitland on Friday 20 January.
When People’s Post visited the school on the day the learners were anxiously awaiting their results, ahead of the official release at 11:00.
Joyful shouts and tears could be heard and seen on their faces as they learned their fate. A 12-year school career was done and dusted.
The matric class of 2022 was probably the hardest hit by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic as schools were shut during their Grade 10 and 11 academic years.
But despite challenges, the Western Cape class achieved 81,4% with 49 102 candidates passing their exams – the largest number of successful candidates for the province.
Michael Fouché, Principal of Holy Cross High School, says his school achieved a 94.3% pass rate, 1% less than the previous year.
“The girls worked hard. This is the group that was the hardest hit by Covid-19, they were in Grade 10 when it started. So, they were the ones that possibly attended school the least. The teachers put in the phenomenal effort. So, for the result that they got, I am extremely proud of them. A lot of the girls can leave here feeling empowered.”
Learner Britney Ngambelo says she faced many personal and health challenges. She says her results are not what she would have liked to achieve but she is determined to rewrite the exam.
“Don’t let your circumstances deter you, use it as your motivation to push harder. A failure is not the end of the world, you can always try again.”
Learner Buhle George says: “I am proud of myself. Matric was challenging, but I have made it.”
Camps Bay High School again achieved a 100% pass rate with 79% achieving a bachelor’s pass.
Louis Mostert, the school principal, says he is proud of the learners.
“I am ecstatic and proud of the 100% for the second year in a row. Our learners and teachers have worked incredibly hard. These learners suffered syllabus losses during Covid-19 because of the restricted curriculum and so we had to work hard over the last two years with them to make sure that all the work was covered before they reach the final exam, we have succeeded and they have produced excellent results”.
The school’s top learner and head prefect Nishaat Williams achieved a 90.7% average mark.
Williams says she is “pleased” with her results.
“After all the hard work, endless studying and late evenings, seeing my results affirmed that all the sacrifice was worth my while. Right now, I am looking forward to starting my next chapter as I embark on my journey towards tertiary studies. However, as outgoing head prefect, I must acknowledge my class’ achievement of attaining a 100% pass rate. I am beyond thrilled to see how far we have come as a grade.”
Another learner, Anan Viljoen Ventura will be studying BA visual communications design at Stellenbosch University this year.
Viljoen says: “Exams were mostly good, some better than others but they always are. Very difficult to keep motivated halfway through but pushed through. The math exam was most definitely the one that I felt least confident about the outcome.”
David Maynier, Western Cape Minister of Education, says: “We thank everyone who played a role in supporting our candidates, especially our matric teachers who have done a phenomenal job to prepare their learners.
“But the second and most important, key ingredient is the unbeatable spirit of the Class of 2022. Faced with the challenges of the pandemic and load shedding, they could have been tempted to give up. But they showed incredible grit, and gave their all, putting in hundreds of extra hours of work, and investing in their own futures.”
