THERE were joyous scenes at Mnyakanya High School in South Africa recently when students and staff celebrated some quite remarkable Grade 12 Matric examination results.
The national Matric exam is the final assessment for High School students and is based on students having to gain passes across a wide range of individual subjects. Of 126 students, 91 (72 per cent) passed with 49 obtaining the higher ‘Bachelor Pass’ which is the entry requirement for university. Twenty-seven 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.
Life is challenging enough at the best of times at Mnyakanya School which serves one of the most deprived areas in KwaZulu-Natal. 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, with many students walking two hours to get to school.