The president congratulated the class of 2020 for an overall pass rate of 76.2% in the national senior certificate examinations, saying it was an outstanding achievement considering the huge disruption caused to the academic year by the coronavirus pandemic. He also expressed his gratitude to minister Angie Motshekga and her team and all the stakeholders and partners in the education fraternity. “Thanks to their resilience, tenacity and persistence, we were able to salvage the academic year. Our educators, like our health professionals, gave of their best this past year. They displayed the utmost professionalism in going to teach despite the risks.” He said SA was deeply saddened by the teachers lost to Covid-19. “We pay tribute to them and, once again, extend the sympathies of the entire nation to their families and colleagues. As we reflect on the past year, with all its hardship and difficulty, our greatest congratulations go to our matriculants.”