Times Of Swaziland: ESWATINI PUPILS SHINE IN MATRIC

ESWATINI PUPILS SHINE IN MATRIC
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BY KHULEKANI NENE on 08/01/2020 23:32:00


BIG BEND - Eswatini pupils at U-Tech have once again excelled in the South
African National Senior Certificate examination (matric).
However, the pass rate by local pupils doing Matric at the centre declined by
2.2 per cent.
Matric results were officially released by the South African Minister of Basic
Education, Angie Motshekga, in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Statistics released by the South African Department of Basic Education reflect
that the Eswatini centre, U-Tech in Big Bend, achieved a 78.8 per cent pass
rate.
Last year, the local centre obtained an 81 per cent pass rate. Although the pass
rate declined by 2.2 per cent, Eswatini schools are pleased with the overall
performance.
The decline of the pass rate has been attributed to the fact that the total
number of candidates (pupils) who sat for the examination this year had
increased.
Revealed
U-tech Principal Dr Boy Khumalo revealed that a total of 706 candidates sat for
the matric examination at the local centre this year. He said last year, there
were 645 candidates who sat for the examination and the pass rate was 81 per
cent. In 2017, Khumalo said 575 candidates sat for the exam at the local centre
and the pass rate was 87 per cent. “Though the pass rate for this year has
slightly declined, the centre did very well overall. We are the second best
performing centre in the Umkhanyakude district,” said Khumalo.
Umkhanyakude is one of the 12 school districts under the KwaZulu-Natal Province
of South Africa, where local schools offering the matric syllabus are
affiliated.
About 12 schools sat for Matric at the Eswatini centre at U-Tech, in Big Bend
last year.
The schools comprise: U-Tech, WEM School, Pro Learning, Mbalenhle Christian
Academy, SAIM School, Hillside College, Brookville Institute, Harolds Academy,
Newlife academy, Milestone academy, Tubungu High and Lechwelight high. This
year’s top performer in the local centre is Nontsikelelo Tsabedze from
Mbalenhle Christian Academy, who scooped seven distinctions plus one credit.
Siphosethu Gumedze from U-Tech School achieved an impressive five distinctions
plus two merit passes.
The trio of Jessica Sikonela, Simphiwe Mkhabela and Kuyenzeka Masuku from
Mbalenhle Christian Academy achieved four distinctions plus credits.
Samukelisiwe Ndlovu from U-Tech obtained three distinctions plus three merit
passes.
An analysis of the overall results for the centre reflect that girls outshone
boys as there were more girls who obtained two or more distinctions.
Last year, the best performing pupil was Sizolwenkosi Madonsela from Mbalenhle
Christian Academy, who achieved an impressive seven distinctions plus one credit
pass.
Flying
In 2018, two local pupils, who passed matric with flying colours, were awarded
for being among the top five best performers in physical sciences in the
Umkhanyakude district.
Siphelele Nxumalo (18) from U-Tech, who achieved an impressive eight
distinctions in the matric results, and Xiniso Dlamini (23) from Hillside
College, were awarded for achieving incredibly high grades in Physical Science.
The due were awarded in a glittering ceremony in March last year, which was held
at Makhasa area near Hluhluwi, in KwaZulu-Natal. In the same ceremony, the local
centre was also awarded for achieving an impressive 86.96 per cent pass rate
from a total enrolment of 575 pupils (candidates who sat for Matric). Nxumalo is
currently studying Biomedical Engineering at Wits University.