Western Cape Education Department (WCED) districts and schools have been recognised as among the country’s best at the National Education Excellence Awards held by the Department of Basic Education (DBE).
The awards ceremony was held in Umhlanga, in KwaZulu Natal, on Thursday 7 April, with the theme of “Celebrating Excellence in Districts and Schools, and building back better with integrity”. This is the 8th iteration of the awards, which are based on indicators of education quality (such as mathematics and science pass rates), rather than simply looking at the overall National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass rate.
Two WCED education districts were recognised for their outstanding work. Metro North Education District (MNED) won second place for the highest percentage of bachelor passes between 2019 and 2021 in the NSC examinations. The district also won second place in the category “Selected Quality Indicators in the 2021 NSC exams for districts serving up to 400 schools”. Metro Central Education District (MCED) won third place in the same category.
MNED Director Wendy Horn received a certificate for outstanding achievement over three years (achieving 85% and above). Horn said it takes teamwork to produce these results. “These awards are dedicated to every staff member at both our high and primary schools, to every member in the district office and the colleagues at head office. I am so proud of every person who has contributed to ensuring our learners receive the best quality education we can provide. To adapt a quote by Michael Jordan: ‘Talent and individuals win games, but teamwork wins championships’.”
The Centre of Science and Technology (Cosat) was awarded a prize for being the best performing Quintile 3 school in the country, based on the highest percentage pass in mathematics and physical sciences in the 2021 NSC exams. Cosat Principal Tiro Motaung said the award is an acknowledgement of the hard work of learners and educators.
“Furthermore, Cosat’s mission statement is focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Stem). All our FET learners offer mathematics, physical sciences, life sciences and information technology or computer applications technology.”
The Western Cape also had the three top-performing schools in Quintile 5. Westerford High School in Rondebosch claimed the top position. This is the second time the school walked away with this award with the first time being in 2018.
Principal Mark Smith said they were extremely proud of the work done by last year’s matric cohort and equally proud of all the hard work done by their staff.
“We have an amazing teaching staff who go the extra mile to stretch and develop the learners. We have learners who take their academic work seriously and we have a support staff who create a wonderfully supportive infrastructure for everyone to enjoy and thrive in,” said Smith.
Asked where the school’s focus lies to have earned such an excellent track record, Smith said it is nothing other than ensuring that the academic work was covered in depth.
“And the subject departments are given freedom to explore the syllabus in depth as well as academic support is given to those requiring it and the conversations around school as well as non-curricular activities all lead to an environment that stimulates the love of learning,” he said.
Rhenish Girls’ High School and Bloemhof Girls’ High School, both in Stellenbosch, were placed second and third respectively.
