VIDEO: Exam success at Mnyakanya School
There were joyous scenes this week at Mnyakanya High School when students and staff celebrated some quite remarkable Grade 12 Matric examination results.
The national Matric exam is based on students having to gain passes across a wide range of individual subjects. Of 126 students, 91 (72%) passed with 49 obtaining the higher ‘Bachelor Pass’ which is the entry requirement for university. 27 students achieved the ‘Diploma Pass’ which is the entry requirement for Technical Colleges and 16 students gained the ‘Higher Certificate’ which can give them access to Vocational Colleges.
Exam success at Mnyakanya School
Life is challenging enough at the best of times at Mnyakanya School which serves one of the most deprived areas in South Africa. This last year has been particularly difficult. School closures due to Covid-19 as well as major issues with both water and electricity supply meant that teachers had to work exceptionally hard in order to complete courses and prepare examination classes. Teachers at the school provided additional weekend and evening classes. Mrs Pk Zondi, Bambisanani co-ordinator at the school, reported some classes going on until 3am in the morning! This is even more remarkable when you consider that for many of these students getting to school involves a two hour walk.
Mrs Zondi and the Principal, Mr Ngubane praised the contribution of the Bambisanani Partnership to these results notably through the ‘Water Project’ which brought clean water to the school (allowing it to reopen) and through the Computer Suite which has been a significant aid to teaching and learning.
Exam success at Mnyakanya School
David Geldart from the partnership said: “Massive congratulations to all the students and teachers at Mnyakanya on these wonderful results. Their hard work, dedication and commitment is both amazing and inspirational; the success that they have achieved has not come easily and is most thoroughly deserved. We know that this is another challenge but we sincerely hope that as many students as possible will be able to pursue their education further; they deserve that opportunity. Mr Ngubane aims for the school to be ‘competing with the very highest performing schools in South Africa’ and we wish him and his team all the very best in their mission to provide their young people with the education they deserve.”
““Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.””
