Klerksdorp Record, Klerksdorp - North West premier, Lazarus Mokgosi, welcomed the guests and he was in a good spirit at the City on a Hill church where the province’s matric results were announced.
In his welcoming speech he announced that the new Bela Act will ensure access for all to free basic education and that Gr R will become compulsory for all students. “Education should be universal, equal and free,” he said.
He continued by singing the ANC’s praise adding that the province’s excellent results can also be attributed to the excellent school transport system and school feeding scheme.
The MEC of Education, Tsetse Motsie, announced that all four districts in the province achieved pass rates of over 84% with Bojanala in first place with 89.4%. She added that the province has bounced back after the pandemic with a 76% pass rate in 2022, compared to 87.5 for the class of 2024.
“Our target is between 86 and 90% and we believe we can be the top province in the future.”
Free State came out tops this year with a pass rate of 91%.
Nationally, more than 615 000 learners passed, the highest number in South Africa’s history.
Invasion of gangsters
“All was not smooth in our schools in 2024. Our communities are infested with service delivery protests, criminal elements and gangsterism, which unfortunately find manifestation in our schools and disrupt learning and teaching. As the department, we cannot succeed in ensuring that schooling runs uninterrupted without the support and cooperation of our communities. In that regard, last but not least, from the bottom of my heart, I wish to express my appreciation to the communities of Jouberton and Kanana in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, in collaboration with the affected governing bodies, for their stalwart role in rescuing Are Fadimeheng, Nkang Mahlale and Mahlaleng Secondary Schools from the invasion of gangsters." - MEC Viola Motsumi.
