Day: January 20, 2023

#ClassOf2022 continues to close the inequality gap

This morning I visited Hector Peterson Secondary School in Wallacedene to celebrate the release of the individual 2022 National Senior Certificate Results to candidates.

The school has produced excellent results this year, despite the surrounding community facing so many challenges. They achieved an incredible 92.6% pass rate in the 2022 matric exams – a whopping 14.1 percentage point increase from last year.

Moreover, 55% of their candidates achieved bachelor’s passes – up from 40.2% last year. And they did this all while increasing the number of candidates writing from 204 to 229.

We congratulate Principal Mike Mavovana and the matric teachers of Hector Peterson Secondary School, and thank them for the support they have given their learners.

And we especially congratulate Hector Peterson Secondary School’s matric Class of 2022: they have shown incredible grit and determination, and should be very proud of their achievement.

District results

It is fitting that we visited Metro East Education District for the individual results release today, for the second year running. Director Landie Diamond and her team have done a fantastic job increasing the district’s pass rate by 1.15 percentage points to 78.29% this year, adding to their increase achieved last year.

Gone are the days when it was assumed that Metro East would be at the bottom of the district log. They are now knocking on the door of 80%! And they are closing the inequality gap that schools in areas with difficult socio-economic circumstances face.

We also congratulate Overberg, Cape Winelands, and Metro Central Education districts for increasing their pass rates, and Metro North Education District for claiming the top spot at 85.46%. Well done to Director Wendy Horn and team!

Quintile results

There is more good news regarding the inequality gap from our quintile results for no-fee schools.

Our quintile 1 schools raised their pass rate 2 percentage points to 70.8%, beating quintile 2 schools. And our quintile 3 schools also increased their pass rate by 0.3 percentage points, to 76.1%. These schools are rapidly closing the gap with higher quintiles.

We are also delighted that the number of underperforming schools – schools that have achieved below 60% in the exams – has declined this year, from 38 in 2021, to 30 in 2022. We work hard with our underperforming schools, so it is great to see this number declining.

Re-marks, re-checks, and supplementary exams

For those candidates that did not achieve their desired results, there are options. I would encourage all learners who did not pass their exams not to give up and to continue doing whatever they can to complete Grade 12.

We encourage all learners who did not achieve their desired marks to apply for a re-mark or re-check if they do not feel their results reflect their performance, or to write the supplementary exams in June. More information on these options is available on the WCED website.

There are measures in place to receive counselling for anyone who is disappointed with their results, either by approaching their school, which will put them in touch with the relevant people in the district offices, or by phoning the Safe Schools Hotline – 0800 45 46 47.

Congratulations again to our Class of 2022 – a fantastic set of achievements of which we can all be very proud!

Candidates can collect their results from their schools today, 20 January 2022. They are also available on the WCED website: https://wcedonline.westerncape.gov.za/

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated the Matric Class of 2022 for outstanding individual and collective performances in the face of challenges arising from two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga on Thursday announced that the Matric Class of 2022 has scored a remarkable 80.1% pass rate, which marks the second highest since 2019.

President Ramaphosa said that the Class of 2022 deserves the congratulations and respect of the nation for rising above the challenges of COVID-19, load shedding and a period of unrest.

“We must all work together to build a society where learners are not measured only by their resilience in testing times but where they can fulfil their potential in conducive conditions.

“The Class of 2022 has through its commendable performance made our future more hopeful; a future in which this generation of young South Africans will take our country to new heights.

“As much as we celebrate individual achievement, the Class of 2022 also constitutes a pass for our education system; it vindicates the extensive and unwavering investment we have made in education during nearly 30 years of freedom,” the President said.

President Ramaphosa said that the country owes the achievements of 2022 to the diligence of learners alongside the commitment and support of teachers, who also endured the challenges of the year, as well as education officials.

“For the relatively small proportion of unsuccessful candidates, this is not the end of the road; you can pick yourself up and take advantage of a number of options that will empower you to continue your journey to success,” he said.

The National Senior Certificate results announced highlighted numerous advances in the basic education system, including:

An increase of just under 9%, compared to 2021, in the number of learners qualifying for Bachelor studies;

A 77.2% pass rate among candidates from no-fee schools;

A 91.5% pass rate in independent schools;

Nearly two-thirds of distinctions have been achieved by female candidates, as evidence of growing gender equity in education, and

A 10% increase in the number of female candidates obtaining Bachelor passes.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Gauteng Department of e-Government hosted a tech expo to bring ICT opportunities to the youth in

Hundreds of young people attended a Youth Tech Expo hosted by the Gauteng Department of e-Government on Thursday, 20 January 2023.

The Tech Expo, held at Seshogong Secondary School in Olievenhoutbosch, was organized to contribute towards youth employment and youth entrepreneurship for the youth in Tshwane. Various companies in the business sector, partnered with the department to enable training and funding opportunities for the youth.

MEC for the Gauteng Department of e-Government, Research and Development and Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Mzi Khumalo, indicated that the expo was organized to empower the youth of Tshwane with career opportunities in the ICT sector, as well as to render assistance to SMME owners with funding opportunities.

“Our aim through this expo, is to assist you in developing your careers through opening up opportunities essential for your growth, whether in employment or entrepreneurship”, said MEC Mzi Khumalo.

The MEC also added that the Youth Tech Expo was hosted in order to educate the youth with key issues regarding the ICT sector and how they can go about starting their own businesses, alluding that knowledge plays a significant role in developing people.

“We are here to empower you with knowledge so that you can be educated and be aware of the various opportunities available for you out there. Knowledge plays a significant role in one’s development. You will be shocked that a number of people missed great opportunities in life because of lack of knowledge. Therefore, when your mind is empowered with the right knowledge, you will be able to make proper and informed decisions about your life”, said MEC Mzi Khumalo.

On the day, the youth were given advise on how to set up their companies to be eligible to do business with the government. They were also taught essential issues, such as financial wellness, managing a business, selecting a career in ICT as well as available ICT training.

The various companies that graced the event and joined hands in empowering the youth were; National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Enterprise Outsourcing Holdings (EOH), First National Bank (FNB), Microsoft, Nemisa, SoftStart, Assupol, Tshepo 1 million, W&R SETTA, and The Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP).

Khathu Ndou, a representative of NYDA, indicated that NYDA focuses on youth entrepreneurs who are just coming into existence and are beginning to display signs of future potential but are not yet fully developed.

Ndou encouraged the youth to register and join NYDA to get support and funding provided to young and upcoming entrepreneurs. .

“The NYDA no longer offers loan finance to young entrepreneurs, the agency provides financial support in the form of ‘micro-finance grants’ to young entrepreneurs and youth cooperatives. I would like to encourage those that are in attendance here today to start using this great opportunity offered by NYDA”, said Ndou.

Keneilwe Sebata was very excited to be at the expo and expressed that through the expo, she has been exposed to a lot of career opportunities.

“I am very happy to here today and I would like to thank the Gauteng Department of e- Government for hosting such a useful event. I have learnt a lot about opportunities that are available out there especially in the ICT industry. Opportunities such as starting my own business, bursaries that are available, and internships together with training opportunities in the ICT sector” said Keneilwe Sebata.

Source: Government of South Africa