“Don’t give up.” This was the motivation that Omolola Bello clung to throughout her matric year. And her determination paid off as she was top of her school at Salt River High for the class of 2021.
The National Senior Certificate results were released on Friday 20 January and the Western Cape matric class of 2021 received an 81,2% pass. This is an increase of 1,3 percentage points from the previous year.
Speaking to People’s Post on Friday after she was informed that she is top learner at her school, an elated Bello says: “I was aiming to do the best that I could. I just aimed for a bachelor’s pass. I told myself if I get a bachelors that’ll be enough for me. I just aimed to do it to the best of my ability.”
Bello obtained three distinctions with a 76% average.
The school achieved a 62% pass rate with most learners achieving a bachelors pass, a result which school principal Donovan Nicholas is “pleased” with considering the difficult year learners had.
“With the Covid-19 pandemic, we had some learners who tested positive, then that whole class had to isolate. To mitigate those factors and to assist and support the learners we run an extra period after school, and we also had Saturday classes. In addition, our entire September vacation was given over to tutoring three hours per subject, per day.”
He explains that learners come from disadvantaged backgrounds as well which saw the school launch the dignity campaign last year.
“We went on a dignity drive to ensure learners had the necessary hygiene packs and nutritious food that they required. We wish to thank all the people who came on board to assist and guide the learners.”
Bello says at the beginning of the year she was ready to throw in the towel as the pressure of being in matric was overwhelming.
“At the beginning of the year I almost crumbled under pressure. The workload crushes you. So, I had to learn how to adjust to the workload. It was very difficult. During the final exam the country had loadshedding, so after school I couldn’t even grab a meal before heading back to school because there is no electricity. I had to jump straight into studying.”
The Nyanga teen says she pushed through because she knew she had dreams to achieve.
“Don’t give up. Because there will be things thrown your way and there will be hard times, but don’t give up. Do the best that you can and know that you are doing it for yourself. You can’t do something for other people.”
Bello now hopes to complete a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science or a Bachelor of Commerce in management.
Nicholas says: “I am very proud of my top learner. There were some days that I know she walked long distances to get to school and the fact that she stayed late in the afternoon catching up on work that she had missed because she too had to be in isolation. Her own intrinsic motivation drove her to this excellent point of three A’s and three B’s, it’s an absolute motivation for the matric learners of 2022.”
Nicholas says they will also support those learners who did not pass with resources so that they can rewrite in June.
Camps Bay high school obtained a 100% pass rate, Jan Van Riebeeck achieved 98,90%, Holy Cross High in Maitland saw a 96,10% pass rate, with Kensington High at 91,70%.
Debbie Schäfer, Western Cape Education Minister, says: “The Class of 2021 has had a tough two years. Their Grade 11 year in 2020 was marred by school closures, with their grade going back to class later than many others. However, their matric year has been very stable, with more time in class than in other matric years. Our schools, districts and Head Office have put in extensive time and effort to prepare these candidates, from providing extra classes in the afternoons and on weekends, extra revision materials, online revision support, and a host of other measures.”
Schäfer says the retention rate from learners in Grade 10 to 12 increased dramatically. The province also achieved its highest percentage of Bachelors passes, at 45,3% which is the highest in the country.
“Our retention rate from learners in Grade 10 to 12 (those actually writing the NSC) – one of the most important education measures – has increased by 3,7 percentage points to 70,3%. This is our highest ever. This is another fantastic achievement.”
