Education experts have praised the matric class of 2020 for their good performance amid the coronavirus pandemic which greatly disrupted the academic year.
The class experienced a prolonged closure of schools especially during the first wave of the virus when the country was placed under a hard lockdown making it difficult for schools to complete the syllabus in time.
The overall matric pass rate for 2020 may have dropped by 5.1 percent compared to 2019, but the resilience shown by pupils while studying under Covid-19 has received high praise.
More than a million pupils, who sat for the 2020 exams, achieved a pass rate of 76.2 percent compared to the 83.1 percent in 2019.
Ferrum High School head girl, Carli Kwakkernaak was placed fourth in the Amajuba District with seven distinctions. She was awarded her achievement by district director RTT Nzama.
Principal C Myburgh said: “Congratulations to our very own head girl of 2020 who obtained fourth place in the Amajuba District with seven As. Congratulations to all the pupils on their outstanding achievements.”
She thanked the teachers for their hard work and perseverance through a difficult 2020. St Dominc’s Academy was another school who is very proud of their 100 percent matric pass rate. “The class and staff of 2020 put in an exceptional effort to achieve these excellent results. They have in true St Dominic’s fashion pushed the levels of achievement to new heights. St Dominic’s can now proudly boast its 35-year 100 percent pass rate streak,” said executive head Chad Moses. Newcastle Municipality Mayor Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba heaped praise on the matriculants. “I congratulate the matric class of 2020 for successfully completing their final schooling year, despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 global pandemic,” said Mahlaba.
DA KZN Spokesperson on Education, Dr Imraan Keeka, the Democratic Alliance’s KZN education provincial spokesperson congratulated the matriculants.
“We welcome the release of the 2020 national senior certificate results in the province and congratulate those learners who have achieved this milestone, along with their teachers and parents,” said Keeka.
He encouraged those who did not make it. “To those learners who did not make it, there is always another opportunity through re-writing your exams later in the year and instead of giving up hope, the DA encourages them to pick themselves up and make sure that they work hard to use this opportunity provided to them by the Department of Education. The world is waiting for you,” he said.
