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    You are at:Home»EDUCATION»Makhanda’s meteoric matric rise continues
    EDUCATION

    Makhanda’s meteoric matric rise continues

    Rod AmnerBy Rod AmnerJanuary 23, 2022Updated:January 23, 2022No Comments11 Mins Read
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    An overjoyed and very proud Ntsika Senior Secondary School group: Halala Ndlovu, Geography teacher; Musa Ncwadi with six distinctions; Setye Nyanda isiXhosa and class teacher; Sive Teyise with seven distinctions; Michele Barnard, English FAL teacher; Aqhamile Yose with five distinctions; Nompumelelo Jack, Life Sciences teacher and acting principal; Sihle Shoba with six distinctions. Source: Facebook

    By ASHLEY WESTAWAY

    By now, the basic statistics of Makhanda’s 2021 matric performance are well known by the readers of Grocott’s Mail. In this analysis piece, I will briefly restate these and then try to analyse and understand them at a deeper level.

    To develop a complete statistical picture of matric results, one must consider both percentages and numbers. Too often in South Africa, there is an overemphasis on percentages; very little attention is paid to numbers. Percentages are useful because they indicate the proportion of those candidates under consideration that have succeeded. Numbers are equally crucial because these speak to the size of the cohort under consideration.

    Quite simply, a high percentage pass rate cannot be regarded as an adequate achievement if the cohort is under-size. An under-sized cohort in this educational context would point to systemic problems such as drop-out and high repetition rates.

    In 2021, the size of the local cohort of matriculants increased significantly, the percentage pass rate reached record highs, and the number and percentage of Bachelor passes also both improved. The basic statistics in this regard are presented in the table below.

    20172018201920202021
    Cohort Size504558540540663
    % Pass Rate75%78%76%80%83%
    Number of Bachelors197238187230313
    % Bachelor Pass Rate39%43%35%43%47%

     

    These statistics provide clear and irrefutable evidence that the Makhanda Class of 2021 was the best ever, both concerning quantitative and qualitative measures and indicators. If we regard 1200 as the approximate size of the 2009 Grade 1 Makhanda cohort, the significance of the 2021 Matric cohort quantum of 663 is that it indicates that the dreaded drop-out rate dropped below 50% for the first time in the city’s history. It declined to 45%, with the retention rate rising to 55%. The local cohort size increased by 23% from 2020 to 2022 because the no-fee sector registered significantly increased numbers of matriculants.

    A cursory glance at the table below confirms that the numbers at Graeme College, PJ Olivier and Victoria Girls are consistent from year to year. Together, the fee-paying sector contributes approximately 180 matriculants per year. In 2021, a massive 481 students at the city’s six no-fee schools wrote the final matric examinations. Unabated growth in the numbers at Ntsika should be highlighted and deservedly applauded by the local community. Also, the Mary Waters cohort size almost doubled from 2020 to 2021, rising to well over 100 students last year.

    Chulumanco Madodonke with her proud parents. Chulumanco obtained 3 distinctions in English 81%, Accounting 85% and Life Sciences 86%.

    The record pass rate of 83% has rightly been hogging the local headlines. From a broader perspective, the significance of the new high level is that it means that Makhanda consolidates its position as the leading education city in the province. It also moves the city to within six percentage points of the top-performing education district nationally, namely Tshwane South (in Gauteng), which achieved a pass rate of 89%.

    Makhanda achieved the new record pass percentage of 83% through a genuine collective effort. Happily, every single school contributed to the success. In previous years, there have always been one or more schools that have not managed a 50% pass rate. Yet, in 2021, the lowest school percentage rate was 64%.

    Four of the six no-fee schools (Khuliso Daniels, Nathaniel Nyaluza, Nombulelo and TEM Mrwetyana) achieved their best pass rates over the last five years. Particular congratulations should be extended to Khutliso Daniels and Nombulelo for their outstanding performance in this regard. In addition, the consistency of the fee-paying sector should never be taken for granted since it is a crucial aspect of Makhanda’s success. Once again, Victoria Girls produced pass rate perfection.

    School-by-school Breakdown of results:

    20172018201920202021
    WrotePassedWrotePassedWrotePassedWrotePassedWrotePassed
    Graeme College5958 (98%)6462 (97%)4946 (94%)6058 (97%)5957 (97%)
    Khutliso Daniels328 (25%)3118 (58%)2211 (50%)3628 (78%)4941 (84%)
    Mary Waters10670 (66%)6251 (82%)11684 (72%)6147 (77%)11993 (78%)
    Nathaniel Nyaluza5324 (45%)5614 (25%)5720 (35%)4025 (63%)6642 (64%)
    Nombulelo5041 (82%)127101 (80%)10079 (79%)8962 (70%)8573 (86%)
    Ntsika7564 (85%)9379 (85%)8767 (77%)10488 (85%)136108 (79%)
    PJ Olivier2624 (92%)3025 (83%)2020 (100%)2928 (97%)4135 (85%)
    TEM Mrwetyana219 (43%)145 (36%)139 (69%)3813 (34%)2619 (73%)
    Victoria Girls8282 (100%)8181 (100%)7674 (97%)8383 (100%)8282 (100%)
    City Total504380558436540410540432663550
    City % Pass Rate75%78%76%80%83%

     

    The most important indicator of a quality pass is to obtain a Bachelor level pass since this enables students to apply for Bachelor Degree study at a tertiary institution. Never before 2021 had Makhanda produced 250 Bachelors. Yet last year, its total haul shot up to 313.

    The best way to explain this is to highlight the extraordinary fact that every single no-fee school produced a higher number of Bachelors than ever before in their respective histories! Some of the new records established by these schools are remarkable: Ntsika – 61; Nombulelo – 43; Mary Waters – 38; Khutliso Daniels – 25. Just three years ago, we were celebrating that the number of no-fee Bachelors reached the 100 mark for the first time. This year the total number of no-fee Bachelors is 183.

    This is a remarkable achievement, especially considering that the city’s total number of bachelors in 2019 (including the fee-paying schools) was 187. It would be incomplete and misleading to conclude this commentary on the extraordinary number of city Bachelors without again acknowledging the significant and consistent contribution of Graeme, PJ Olivier and especially Victoria Girls in this regard. Furthermore, as with the stellar pass rate of 83%, the remarkable record Bachelor pass rate of 47% was achieved on the back of an excellent collective effort of all nine public schools in the city.

    School-by-school Bachelor performance:

    20172018201920202021
    Graeme College4046254137
    Khutliso Daniels0511025
    Mary Waters1619232338
    Nathaniel Nyaluza886312
    Nombulelo1434282343
    Ntsika2236284661
    PJ Olivier1716131418
    TEM Mrwetyana20034
    Victoria Girls7874636775
    Total197238187230313

     

    Without wanting to dampen the mood of this celebratory analysis, it is necessary to draw attention to the fact that UMALUSI (the quality assurance body in South Africa) standardised the matric results by adjusting many subject results upwards. These subjects included Physical Sciences, History, Accounting, Economics and English Home Language. Upward adjustment implies that the results that students were awarded on their Certificates and Statements of Results in these subjects were higher than their actual examination marks.

    While UMALUSI observed raw results in most subjects (including Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy), it hardly implemented any downward adjustment. In summary, the analysis offered above is an analysis of somewhat inflated results. Be that as it may, the reality is that because the public education sector in Makhanda has, to its credit, been able to maintain its standards despite the Covid-related disruptions, it has benefitted from UMALUSI’s standardisation.

    I’m making the point here that whilst the 2021 results are certainly cause for celebration, nothing can be taken for granted moving forward. Our schools must remain as vigilant, committed and ambitious as ever as they take on the even more significant challenges that lie ahead in 2022.

    A year ago, I concluded my analysis of the 2020 result by noting that the students themselves hold the key to good performance in matric, more than their parents, principals, and teachers. I expressed that hope that the Class of 2021 would demonstrate the same tenacity, resolve and determination as the marvellous Class of 2020. As it turned out, our 2021 matriculants easily outshone their 2020 predecessors. Can the Class of 2022 raise the bar even higher?

    The following graphs, comparing matric data for the past 10 years, were compiled by Prof Gavin Keeton.

    Matric pass rates, 2012-2021

    Pass (%)
    2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
    Graeme100%98%97%98%100%98%97%94%97%97%
    Khutliso Daniels64%46%26%24%50%25%58%50%78%84%
    Mary Waters77%76%67%73%71%66%82%72%77%78%
    Nyaluza32%41%55%23%48%45%25%35%63%64%
    Nombulelo65%39%65%53%57%82%80%79%70%86%
    Ntsika29%62%81%70%87%85%85%77%85%79%
    PJ Olivier96%88%87%96%82%92%83%100%97%85%
    TEM Mrwetyana44%47%40%40%26%43%36%69%34%73%
    VGHS100%100%100%100%100%100%100%97%100%100%
    City69%60%73%62%71%75%78%76%80%83%

     

    Number of matric passes, 2012-2021

    Pass (number)
    2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
    Graeme594574625862465857
    Khutliso Daniels711710818112841
    Mary Waters647264857051844793
    Nath Nyaluza162522322414202542
    Nombulelo7584754541101796273
    Ntsika1538386164796788108
     PJ Olivier233026312425202835
    TEM Mrwetyana182819149591319
    VGHS758284698281748382
    City356416409409380436410433550
    Benjamin Mahlasela41

     

    Number of Bachelor passes, 2012-2021

    Bachelor Pass (number)
    2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
    Graeme393545434046254137
    Khutliso Daniels04330511025
    Mary Waters122011131619232338
    Nath Nyaluza1646886312
    Nombulelo19192471434282343
    Ntsika177222236284661
    PJ Olivier121716131716131418
    TEM Mrwetyana442020034
    VGHS667581647874636775
    City154187193171197238187230313
    Benjamin Mahlasela00

     

    Percentage of Bachelor Passes, 2012-2021

    Bachelor Pass (%)
    2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
    Graeme66%76%59%67%69%68%72%51%68%63%
    Khutliso Daniels0%17%11%0%15%0%16%5%28%51%
    Mary Waters14%21%12%12%11%15%31%20%38%32%
    Nath Nyaluza2%10%10%6%9%15%14%11%8%18%
    Nombulelo16%9%21%15%9%28%27%28%26%51%
    Ntsika2%11%15%16%31%29%39%32%44%45%
    PJ Olivier50%50%53%57%34%65%53%65%48%44%
    TEM Mrwetyana10%7%4%4%0%10%0%0%8%15%
    VGHS88%91%96%88%93%95%91%83%81%91%
    City30%27%34%26%29%39%43%35%43%47%

     

    Number of matrics who wrote, 2012-2021

    Wrote
    2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
    Graeme594676625964496059
    Khutliso Daniels112427203231223649
    Mary Waters8395951201066211661119
    Nath Nyaluza506140675356574066
    Nombulelo11621511679501271008985
    Ntsika52614770759387104136
    PJ Olivier243430382630202941
    TEM Mrwetyana415947552114133826
    VGHS758284698281768382
    City517688562580504558540540663
    Benjamin Mahlasela611
    Previous ArticleAstounding new record for Bachelor passes in Makhanda
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