Thembisa Shologu

Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, has applauded the Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga and Cabinet for not responding to public calls for the closure of schools during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Listening to critics would have meant that the Matric Class of 2021 is stuck in Grade 10, he said.  “When others told us to close schools, they said we were influenced by science… if schools were eventually closed based on fears surrounding the pandemic, then we would not be here celebrating our learners’ wonderful achievements.
 
“Our Minister stood firm and declared that our children are better inside the classroom than at home.” 
 
Lesufi was speaking at the announcement of Gauteng 2021 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results at Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni on Friday.
 
The Class of 2021 was the most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, enduring two years of disruptions due to lockdown regulations. Lesufi said he was proud of defending learners' careers to ensure the country's future is protected. 
 
Gauteng achieved the second-highest matric pass rate in the country with 82.8%.  The province had 127 523 matriculants who wrote the exams, of which 105 526 passed. Of those who passed, 55 000 had earned a Bachelor passes.

This means that of 10 learners who wrote the exams, eight have passed, and out of that five received Bachelor passes, said Lesufi. A total of 130 schools delivered a 100% pass rate while 462 schools performed above 90%.  Out of the 10 top-performing districts in the country, four come from Gauteng.
 
Tshwane South was the highest performing district in the country with 89.3%. 

Johannesburg West came fourth with 86.5% and Ekurhuleni South was tied in fifth place receiving 86.2%.  “What excites me more is that 79 of our learners are part of those who were shortlisted for the national awards. 
 
“This demonstrates our commitment to ensure that quality education happens to everyone. We are now ready to confront non-believers with quality results,” he said. 
 
With more than 70% of Bachelor passes coming from township schools, Lesufi advised parents not to overlook them without checking the quality of their results. 
 
Some of the township schools that made their mark during these exams are Diepsloot (77%), Diepsloot Combined School (78%), Sunrise Secondary School (72%) and Empilisweni Secondary School in Katlehong were 241 out of the 249 learners who wrote matric exams passed. 

“They are demonstrating our commitment to turn around township education. They are proving a point that given an opportunity they can also do it.” 
 
Without the dedication of the teachers and district managers, the province would not have achieved this success, said the MEC.
 
Lesufi said he was saddened that some of the teachers lost their lives to COVID-19 and could not witness the fruits of their labour.