Staff Reporter
Education MEC Tate Makgoe says the Free State matric class of 2020 has emerged the best in the country because they completed most of the work for the final year while in Grade 11.
Makgoe told The Free Stater during a media briefing at a special event to announce the provincial results for the National Senior Certificate that he felt it important to adequately prepare the learners while in Grade 11 in order to minimise the pressure of work in the final year.
“We had a crusade in 2019,” said Makgoe.
“We made sure that we supported the class of 2020 in 2019 when they were in Grade 11.
“We had a particular focus on Motheo district but we did the same in other districts.
“I personally went to different schools in the province.”
In the latest matric results announced by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga yesterday, Motheo district is among the top 10 out of the country’s 75 districts.
“When I heard that . . . something said to me, Tate, that strategy from two years back has worked. So, that’s what we will continue doing because we have seen it works,” said an excited Makgoe.
He said learners should not wait until Grade 12 to start working hard because there is only six months for learning in the final year.
The MEC praised the top achievers for working hard despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to the schooling programme, saying they proved that hard work and dedication pay off.
The best candidate in the province for 2020 is Neo Brandon Mthombeni from Ngwathe Secondary School in Edenville with seven distinctions.
He plans to study chemical engineering.
The overall top candidate is Marc Daniel Van der Nest from St Andrew’s Combined School in Bloemfontein who got eight distinctions with 100 percent in Accounting and Physical Science.
He wants to study medicine.
The top 125 learners in the province each received a travelling bag, a laptop and some cash.
Those qualifying will also get bursaries for their university studies.
Only 15 of the top learners were allowed at the event due to the COVID-19 protocols.
The others followed the event via a livestream from their respective districts.
At least 40.4 percent of the candidates achieved bachelor passes which allow them to study at universities while 31.3 percent qualify to enrol for diploma studies.
A total of 41 834 part-time and full-time candidates sat for the 2020 NSC examinations in the province.
Makgoe said because of the lockdown, learners missed a lot of contact time at school.
Some had to adapt to the new normal of studying online and through community radio stations and other unconventional methods.
He said any township and rural schools could not deploy the online teaching model because they did not have adequate resources.
Premier Sisi Ntombela reassured the learners that the provincial bursary scheme would continue supporting them.
“I want to assure you that we will continue assisting the needy children of the province. We have agreed (as the executive council) that we cannot drop our children,” said Ntombela.
She however warned the learners to avoid double dipping by benefitting from the bursary fund and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme as this deprives others from getting financial support.
The province is currently funding 1 002 students at local universities and 535 studying outside the country.
The premier however said no new students will be put on the international programme as the provincial government is trying to cut costs.
She also led the gathering in observing a moment of silence in honour of the 66 teachers and four learners who have succumbed to COVID-19 in the province.
