CX Class of '21 exceeds national pass rate

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KNYSNA | BITOU NEWS - Plettenberg Bay and Knysna's Class of 2021 did the area proud by substantially exceeding the national pass rate and edging out the Western Cape average.

The seven government high schools in the area obtained an 81,7% pass rate, while nationally only 76,4% of matriculants made the grade. Last year the local schools managed an 83,4% pass rate.

In terms of provinces, the Free State held on to its number one spot nationally with a pass rate of 85,7%, which is an 0,6% increase over the previous year.

Gauteng was second with a pass rate of 82,8%, experiencing a 1% decline, followed by the Western Cape with a pass rate of 81,2%, an improvement of 1,3% from 79,9% in 2020.

The lowest pass rates were recorded in Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Limpopo, with 73%, 71,4% and 66,7% respectively.

The Eden and Central Karoo district, which includes Plett and Knysna, also did exceptionally well as the district made the top 10 best performing districts in the country with an 84,4% pass rate.

Lisakhanya Wana and Lubone Xayimpi study their results at Wittedrift High School after the 2021 matric results were released. Photo: Ewald Stander

Three of the schools in Plett and Knysna managed to show an improvement on last year's results. The biggest improvement came from Percy Mdala High School in Knysna which managed an 86,9% pass rate compared to last year's 81,7%.

At Plettenberg Bay Secondary School, 80,8% of matriculants passed, compared with last year's 77,6%.

Knysna High School also showed a slight improvement with 96,5% compared with the previous year's 95,8%.

Concordia High School however saw a small drop from last year's 73% to 68,7%. At Knysna Secondary the pass rate dropped from 77,9% to 69,8% and at Murray High 74,5% of matriculants passed compared with last year's 76,8%.

Wittedrift High School in Plett also saw a small decrease in the pass rate after three of the 60 learners failed. Last year the school achieved a 98,4% pass rate and this year it is down to 95%.

Photo gallery: Matric class of 2021 did well despite the odds

Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga said the class of 2021 was the "most impacted" by the Covid-19 pandemic as matriculants battled two years of restrictions and disruptions.

"For the past 10 years, the NSC pass rates have consistently been going up from 60% in 2009, to above 70% in recent years. The class of 2021 must be commended for maintaining this trend, despite the astronomical challenges they faced," she said.

These girls had reason to smile after receiving excellent results. Back from left are Ternichia Simmer, Thenique Arnolds and Cleo Human and in front are Jessica Jooste-Coetzee and Jo Anne de Wet. Photo: Ewald Stander