’Plain matrics beat the odds

• Author: Fouzia Van der Fort fouzia.vanderfort@inl.co.za
• Published date: 24 February 2021
• Date: 24 February 2021

And pupils who attended school regularly despite the unprecedented challenged posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, generally did better than those who did not attend regularly.

These were among the comments made by Mitchell’s Plain principals this week when the matric results of the Class of 2020 were announced. For the first time since 2010, the Western Cape has achieved a pass rate of less than 80%, coming in third with a pass rate of 79.9%, behind Free State with 85.1%, and Gauteng with a 83.8% pass rate.

When she announced the results on Monday February 22, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said the national National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass rate was 76.2%, which was down 5.1% from the record pass of 81.3% achieved by the class of 2019.

At Mondale High School in Portland, 237 pupils wrote the NSC exam last year, achieving a 99.6% pass rate.

Principal Owen Bridgens did not have much to say when matriculants came to collect their results at noon yesterday, Tuesday February 23, but encouraged those who were not too happy with their results to apply to have their examination scripts remarked, which could improve their marks or mean passing subjects.

“Goodluck and thank you for being Mondalians,” he said

Mr Bridgens told the Plainsman it had been a tough year for all schools.

“Pupils and family members had fears of getting sick and had comorbidities, which made them not come to school,” he said.

He congratulated top pupil Danielle Fortuin who had an aggregate of 85.7%, achieving six distinctions for Afrikaans (83%); mathematics (87%); life orientation (87%); accounting (97%); life sciences (88%); and physical sciences (87%).

In second position was Andrea Taylor who achieved an aggregate of 84.6%, with distinctions in Afrikaans (82%); mathematics (94%); life orientation (82%); accounting (90%); life sciences (84%) and physical sciences (84%).

Mr Bridgens said he was proud of Mondale and Spine Road High - the top two schools in Mitchell’s Plain - and that he hoped more schools would join them in the 90 percent averages.

“We can up the ante and pupils would not have to go outside of Mitchell’s Plain for schools,” he said.

He said it was important for pupils to be at school for a sense of purpose and a place of safety - where they were learning.

“Outside there are a lot negative influences and we want them at school thriving,” said Mr Bridgens.

Spine Road High School principal Mark Fairbairn said he was very happy with their 98% pass rate, especially in...