Pupils put kasi schools on the map

GAUTENG Education MEC Matome Chiloane believes in kasi kids.

He said township schools have the potential to excel and further improve their matric pass rates.

Chiloane said this while giving an update on the National Senior Certificate (NSC) 2023 in Bryanston, north of Joburg on Friday afternoon, 19 January.

To date, Raymond Mhlaba Maths Science & ICT School of Specialisation, a township school, has achieved a 100% pass rate and 85% bachelor passes.

This school in the west of Joburg is in line with the Imbali Combined School in Orange Farm, another township school in the south of Joburg.

According to the MEC, a number of schools, including those in the township, have achieved a pass rate of 95% and above.

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In light of this, he recognised the significant progress that has been made in closing the gap between schools for poor communities, particularly township schools, and schools for the middle class.

"It is worth noting that all grade 12 learners in township schools have had the opportunity to benefit from teaching and learning as we have invested in technology in the classroom.

"This was in addition to the additional learning programmes on weekends and during school holidays. We will continue to increase our efforts in this area to maximise the use of these resources for better learning outcomes. This will help to reduce the inequalities that still exist," he said.

The number of schools in Gauteng, including the schools in the townships, has reached a success rate of 95% and more.

Schools that have achieved 100% include Phomolong Secondary School in Ekurhuleni, Sizwele School for the Deaf in the west of Joburg, Ahmed Timol from Mogale City, as well as Kgatoentle Secondary School in Ga-Rankuwa, Tshwane.

All five regions in Gauteng have achieved a pass rate of over 80%, with the West Rand District Municipality leading the way with 86,7% compared to 82,1% in 2022. Tshwane improved from 85,5% to 87,5% in 2022, and Joburg rounded off the top three with 85,4% compared to 84,7% the previous year.

Hot on its heels is Ekurhuleni with 84% compared to 84,2% in the previous year. Sedibeng takes last place with 83%, an increase of 0,14% in 2022.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi emphasised that pupils needed to be well rounded.

"We want all our children to have all the skills they need when they finish matric, even if that means flying drones," he said.