“Grand plan fails to lift pass rate” screamed a headline on the front page of the Daily Dispatch on January 7, just a day after Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced that the Eastern Cape had plummeted from a 65.4% matric pass rate in 2014 to 56.8% in 2015, making it the worst performing province last year.
“A teacher is a hard worker and has to be close to the pupils. What we do is show the children their potential. Sometimes we see a diamond that other schools are not seeing. All it takes is dedication, determination, focus, hard work and teamwork from everyone involved, including parents, teachers and pupils.”
This however has led to a situation where the school now has to contend with a high demand from parents wanting a place for their children.
Seventeen-year-old Uthandile Gasa, one of St Johns’ matric pupils this year, described St John’s pupils as goal-driven.
“In the hostel you are up by 4am and have to be ready for school by 6am. The school is out at 3pm and then we are back for tutorials at 4pm. Evening studies start at 7pm. There is no time to loiter around,” she said.
Gasa is also the school’s “minister of discipline” leading a matric committee that deals with those who break rules – like arriving late to school. They are charged a fee which is channelled towards helping other less fortunate pupils with school uniforms and lunch.
She said she wanted to be a doctor and was attracted by the school’s remarkable results.
One of the school’s top matriculants last year, Kukhokuhle Tsengwa, who finished second nationally in the physical science as well as maths category, said his own father and siblings and aunts had also attended St John’s College.
“It’s kind of a family school for me. The atmosphere itself at the school motivates you to work hard.”
The youngster, who turns 18 in October, has enrolled for a degree in mechatronics engineering at the University of Cape Town.
It was not only Tsengwa who achieved for the school – classmate Aviwe Blackbeard came third nationally also in the maths and physical science category, and Odwa Jim was the third best matric student overall in the Eastern Cape for 2015.
Despite being regarded as a previously-disadvantaged school St John’s College boasts an impressive alumni list which includes former president Thabo Mbeki, Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle, ambassadors Bhaso Sangqu and Masilo Mabeta and Whiphold CEO Gloria Serobe. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
Dedication key at top school
“A teacher is a hard worker and has to be close to the pupils. What we do is show the children their potential. Sometimes we see a diamond that other schools are not seeing. All it takes is dedication, determination, focus, hard work and teamwork from everyone involved, including parents, teachers and pupils.”
This however has led to a situation where the school now has to contend with a high demand from parents wanting a place for their children.
Seventeen-year-old Uthandile Gasa, one of St Johns’ matric pupils this year, described St John’s pupils as goal-driven.
“In the hostel you are up by 4am and have to be ready for school by 6am. The school is out at 3pm and then we are back for tutorials at 4pm. Evening studies start at 7pm. There is no time to loiter around,” she said.
Gasa is also the school’s “minister of discipline” leading a matric committee that deals with those who break rules – like arriving late to school. They are charged a fee which is channelled towards helping other less fortunate pupils with school uniforms and lunch.
She said she wanted to be a doctor and was attracted by the school’s remarkable results.
One of the school’s top matriculants last year, Kukhokuhle Tsengwa, who finished second nationally in the physical science as well as maths category, said his own father and siblings and aunts had also attended St John’s College.
“It’s kind of a family school for me. The atmosphere itself at the school motivates you to work hard.”
The youngster, who turns 18 in October, has enrolled for a degree in mechatronics engineering at the University of Cape Town.
It was not only Tsengwa who achieved for the school – classmate Aviwe Blackbeard came third nationally also in the maths and physical science category, and Odwa Jim was the third best matric student overall in the Eastern Cape for 2015.
Despite being regarded as a previously-disadvantaged school St John’s College boasts an impressive alumni list which includes former president Thabo Mbeki, Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle, ambassadors Bhaso Sangqu and Masilo Mabeta and Whiphold CEO Gloria Serobe. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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