Mpumalanga Schools Shine: Mkolishi High Leads the Way With 100% Matric Pass Rate
Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu with Ndvuna Gundwane from Bukhosi baka Lamagadlela
Tjakastad, Mpumalanga – Mpumalanga province is celebrating a major victory in education, with the Class of 2024 achieving record-breaking results in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams. The province has not only exceeded its target pass rate but has also shown significant improvement in key subjects like Mathematics and Physical Sciences. Among the many success stories, Mkolishi High School stands out as a beacon of hope, achieving a 100% matric pass rate despite being a Quintile 1 school.
Mkolishi High School’s Success Story
Located in Tjakastad, Mkolishi High School has demonstrated exceptional performance, securing the top position among Quintile 1 schools in the province. Quintile 1 schools serve the poorest 20% of learners in South Africa, and they often face numerous challenges. Despite limited resources, the learners at Mkolishi High School have consistently achieved strong academic results.
The Premier of Mpumalanga, Mandla Ndlovu, along with MEC for Education, Cathy Dlamini, and the Executive Mayor, Cllr Mbuso Magubane, visited the school to commend the teachers and students for their outstanding achievements. Ndlovu recognized the results as a testament to the hard work and dedication of the learners and educators and said that the province celebrates the achievements of the class of 2024.
The school’s success has garnered significant attention and support. Ndlovu pledged to provide full school uniforms for 150 learners. Additionally, the Department of Education and other stakeholders have committed to providing the school with furniture and sending a maintenance team for renovations. The current state of the school is not suitable for teaching and learning.
Provincial Successes and Milestones
The overall performance of the province has been remarkable. The Class of 2024 achieved an 84.99% pass rate, surpassing the target by 1.99% and significantly improving from the 77% pass rate of 2023. The quality of passes has also improved, with 27,885 out of 54,567 candidates qualifying for bachelor’s programs.
For the first time, Mpumalanga has exceeded a 60% pass rate in Mathematics, reaching 66.37%, and a 73.69% pass rate in Physical Sciences. Two learners achieved a perfect 100% in Mathematics, and the province recorded a total of 23,310 distinctions, up from 16,162 in 2023.
District and Municipal Achievements
The Ehlanzeni District has been recognized as the best-performing district with an 88.43% pass rate, while the Msukaligwa Circuit led with a stellar 95.9%. Steve Tshwete Local Municipality claimed the top spot among municipalities with a 92.9% pass rate. Hoërskool Nelspruit stood out as the province’s top school, achieving a 100% pass rate with 366 distinctions, while Madoda Secondary School was celebrated as the most improved, increasing to 90.9% from a prior 28%.
Moving Forward
MEC Dlamini has reaffirmed the Department of Education’s commitment to enhancing education quality through targeted interventions. These include:
- Strengthening the OR Tambo Mathematics, Science, and Technology Academy.
- Expanding resources for technical and vocational training.
- Promoting coding, robotics, and e-learning.
Prioritizing disadvantaged schools.
The province also plans to open the Lucky Dube Secondary School for Performing Arts, a mining school, and a facility for deaf and blind learners. Additionally, the department will distribute laptops to teachers and e-learning tools to students. To celebrate and encourage top performance, full provincial bursaries will be awarded to top learners, including those with disabilities and albinism.
Mkolishi High School remains a model of resilience and determination. The school has outperformed some schools in urban areas, demonstrating that socio-economic status does not have to limit success. Dlamini hopes that the school will increase the number of distinctions and have its learners ranked among the top nationally in the future. The visit to Mkolishi High School concluded with commitments from the Department of Education and other stakeholders to support the school while encouraging learners to sustain their academic performance. The success of the Class of 2024 is viewed as a celebration of resilience, dedication, and collaboration, which heralds a brighter future for Mpumalanga.