By ROD AMNER
Wow! Just wow! Under lockdown?! How?!
Makhanda’s public high schools have together produced a record number of Bachelor passes – 313 – eclipsing, by a country mile, the 238 in 2018. And, with a pass rate of 83%, Makhanda has consolidated is position as the top-performing education centre in the Eastern Cape.
A Bachelor’s pass makes a candidate eligible for a degree at a university, university of technology, TVET college, or any accredited Higher Learning Institution.
The most improved school is Khutliso Daniels, which produced no Bachelor passes in 2017, just one in 2019, but then leapt to 10 last year and now 25 in 2021.
The other big hitters were Ntsika (from an impressive 46 Bachelor passes last year to a whopping 61 this year), Mary Waters (23 last year to 38 this year), Nombulelo (23 in 2020, 43 in 2021). Nathaniel Nyaluza jumped from 3 to 12.
Victoria Girls High School continues to produce the highest number of Bachelor passes in the city – 75 this year, up from 67 last year.
Bachelor passes (formerly ‘matric exemption’)
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Graeme College | 43 | 40 | 46 | 25 | 41 | 37 |
| Khutliso Daniels | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 25 |
| Mary Waters | 13 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 38 |
| Nathaniel Nyaluza | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 12 |
| Nombulelo | 7 | 14 | 34 | 28 | 23 | 43 |
| Ntsika | 22 | 22 | 36 | 28 | 46 | 61 |
| PJ Olivier | 13 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 18 |
| TEM Mrwetyana | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Victoria Girls | 64 | 78 | 74 | 63 | 67 | 75 |
| Total | 171 | 197 | 238 | 187 | 230 | 313 |
The percentage of learners achieving a Bachelors pass was especially impressive. Once again, Victoria Girls High School achieved the highest rate (91.5%), followed by Graeme College (65%), but nipping at their heels are several no-fee-paying schools: Khutliso Daniels (61%), Nombulelo (59%), and Ntsika (57%).
| Number of passes 2021 | % Bachelors | % Diploma | % Certificate | |
| Graeme College | 57 | 64.9% (37) | 31.6% (18) | 3.5% (2) |
| Khutliso Daniels | 41 | 61% (25) | 31.7% (13) | 7.3% (3) |
| Mary Waters | 93 | 40.9% (38) | 45.2% (42) | 14% (13) |
| Nathaniel Nyaluza | 42 | 28.6% (12) | 38.1% (16) | 33.3% (14) |
| Nombulelo | 73 | 58.9% (43) | 30.1% (22) | 11% (8) |
| Ntsika | 108 | 56.5% (61) | 24.1% (26) | 19.4% (21) |
| PJ Olivier | 35 | 51.4% (18) | 34.3% (12) | 14.3% (5) |
| TEM Mrwetyana | 19 | 21.1% (4) | 47.4% (9) | 31.6% (6) |
| Victoria Girls | 82 | 91.5% (75) | 8.5% (7) | – |
Seven distinctions
Ntsika’s Sive Teyise achieved seven distinctions in his seven subjects.
A message on the Ntsika Facebook page congratulated the 2021 matric class for achieving a 79% pass rate “despite challenging circumstances”.
“Every child, parent, staff member and the larger community contributed to this achievement. We salute you.
“Congratulations to all Makhanda schools on their improvements. Our town is indeed becoming a city of educational excellence,” the message said.
The three National Senior Certificate pass requirements are as follows:
Higher certificate pass requirements
A candidate must pass at least 6 out of 7 subjects and obtain:
- At least 40% in your Home Language
- At least 40% in two other subjects
- At least 30% for four other subjects
Diploma pass requirements
A candidate must pass at least 6 out of 7 subjects and obtain:
- At least 40% for your Home Language
- At least 40% for three other subjects excluding Life Orientation
- At least 30% in the Language of Learning and Teaching (LOLT) of the tertiary institution (Higher Education Institution)
The candidate who achieves a Diploma pass qualifies to apply for a diploma at a TVET college or University of Technology.
Bachelors Degree pass requirements
To achieve a Bachelors Degree pass, a candidate must pass at least 6 out of 7 subjects and obtain:
- At least 40% for your Home Language (compulsory)
- At least 50% for four other subjects excluding Life Orientation
- At least 30% in Language of Learning and Teaching (LOLT) of the tertiary (Higher Education) institution
- At least 30% for one other subject.
A Bachelor’s pass makes a candidate eligible for a degree at a university, university of technology, TVET college, or any accredited Higher Learning Institution.
Watch out for a full analysis of this year’s matric results by Gadra Education manager Dr Ashley Westaway next week.
