Mnyakanya High School do it again!
Mnyakanya High School in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, has recently learned that it has obtained a remarkable 90% pass rate in the annual Matriculation (Matric) Examinations, despite many challenges that were faced by the school in the last year.
Students celebrate their results
This result equals the school's record breaking 90% pass rate of 2023. In 2022 the pass rate was a commendable 86% and in 2021 it was 72%. It is not so many years ago that the pass rate was half that of the amazing results of this year and last so there is little wonder that this remote rural school is gaining the attention of the nation.
In 2023, Mnyakanya had 112 students who sat the national Matric exams. This was a huge number for the school with limited classrooms, teachers and resources. Learners had to be taught in overcrowded classrooms with teachers providing additional lessons in the evenings and weekends.
Star pupil Busisiwe Bhengu
The 2023 results surprised many people when 58 learners obtained a Bachelors Pass, which is the entry requirement to go to university, 31 learners obtained a Diploma Pass which is the entry requirement for Technical Colleges and 12 learners obtained the Higher Certificates which can provide access to Technical Colleges.
Busisiwe Bhengu who achieved the highest scores with no less than 6 Distinctions In her subjects, broke into tears of joy when she received the news of her achievements. Her grandmother, Mashezi Bhengu who takes care of her family by selling snacks at school said:
"I am so grateful that Busisiwe has broken the record by achieving such high results. I am so proud to know that she is the first student to obtain 6 distinctions in her subjects throughout the history of Mnyakanya High school."
Busisiwe's father, Mafuna Bhengu, passed the words of gratitude to the school principal and said:
"I'm so excited about the work done by the teachers for my daughter. I don’t have anything in my hands, but I wish I can do something for the school to show my appreciation. I am speechless, not knowing what to do because of excitement.
I wish to say a massive thanks to you Mr Principal and your staff, God bless you."
Mnyakanya High School results continue to attract students from different parts of the province and from other provinces. The school enrolment of 2024 has risen up to 950 students compared to 859 of 2023. There are many students who applied and could not be taken because the school is running short of enough space and furniture.
The Mnyakanya community is working hand in hand with the school to provide accommodation closer to the school for those students who wish to move to the area to attend the school. Again, teachers of the school are proving additional classes to cope with the massive increased demand.
Mr SV Ngubane, Principal of Mnyakanya congratulates students on their outstanding results
Mnyakanya School together with St. Mary’s School, Menston (UK) are the founding schools of the Bambisanani Partnership and have worked closely together for the benefit of students in both schools for the past 17 years. Mnyakanyal is now a very popular school not only for its outstanding examination results but for its sports activities, cultural activities and international links and educational opportunities through the Bambisanani Partnership. The addition of Computer Literacy as a subject in the school curriculum by the Bambisanani Partnership and Rotary International has been a major factor in increased academic achievement at the school.
The Chairperson of the school governing body, Mr Sguda Bhengu said:
"I am feeling very proud to be the Chairperson the school that is doing so well with its results. In all cases or events when I’m expected to introduce myself, I do not forget to p roudly mention that I am the Chairperson of Mnyakanya school governing body. This make my status to be respected even greater in the community, just because of the good work done at Mnyakanya”.
The delighted Principal of Mnyakanya, Mr SV Ngubane said, “2023 was the toughest year with many challenges. The Matric results could not be predicted at all because of these challenges. Teachers were extremely overloaded with work because the school was understaffed. The results that we obtained are from hard work and dedication of teachers and learners who sacrificed their time of seeing their families during holidays and during the week-ends. I cannot explain the joy that I have in my heart about what we achieved."
Students doing extra study after school
David Geldart from the Bambisanani Partnership added, “I am almost lost for words at the remarkable continued progress at Mnyakanya School. The teachers and students deserve the utmost praise and congratulations for their outstanding work. Many students routinely walk two hours to and from school each day because they want an education. Relatively few resources and class sizes of 60 plus are the norm. There is a shortage of teachers at the school and those that are there go the extra mile continually for their students by working additional hours before school, after school, weekends and holidays! The young people and their educators are an inspiration and students and teachers from other parts of the world have much to learn from their commitment, determination and resilience. This success is achieved against all the odds and is thoroughly deserved. The Bambisanani Partnership is honoured to be working with such a school and to have made a small contribution to its success that we can all learn from.”
Published: 07/02/2024
