While the Western Cape province’s pass rate increased from 75,7% in 2009 to 76,8% in 2010, Percy Mdala High School’s 2010 matric pass rate showed an alarming decline to 45% compared to 2009’s 64%.
Percy Mdala High School teachers also participated in the national teachers’ strike last year, which may have contributed to the disappointing results. However the principal, Mdala Nicholas Njozela, said that incomplete results may have played a part in the apparent decline in pass rate. He explained that this can happen when learners do not show up to write certain exams, which will then have to be re-written at a later date. Njozela has addressed the matter
of incomplete results with the Department of Education, and is awaiting the department’s response.
Njozela further said, "I obviously do not feel good about this. All I can say is that those who have failed must now prepare themselves for the supplementary exams."
Njozela urged parents to attend school meetings and to take their children’s education seriously.
"This serves as a wake-up call to all those who failed their exams. I do hope that they make use of all the resources we have at the school," said Njozela.
Some of Percy Mdala High School’s Grade 12 learners who did not pass their final exam, have already applied to re-write the relevant subjects.
The principle warmly congratulated all the successful matriculants.
"To those who failed, this is not the end of the world. It’s time to work hard, grab opportunities and attend extra classes offered at the school," concluded Njozela.
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We made it! Percy Mdala High School teacher S Mbalo (left) and deputy principal N Bans (in the middle, front) with some of the matriculants eagerly scanning their report cards to see how well they did in the 2010 final exams.
