Despite three outbreaks of food poisoning at Ndamase Senior Secondary school last year, matrics scored an impressive 83% rate, with 87 university passes.
The last case of food poisoning at the school resulted in 180 grade 12s being rushed to hospital, all with similar symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps and headaches.
The outbreak came just a few weeks before exams started.
Acting principal Mvuyeleni Jikana, who is head of exams and mathematics and science, said the outbreaks had disrupted learning because some pupils were off sick for about a week.
“We then needed to work on helping those pupils catch up, so we adopted extra classes we called ‘exam push’ where we grouped learners according to their needs and assigned relevant teachers to each group which, as the results show, has proven to be very effective,” said Jikana.
He said pupils also achieved 65 technikon or college entrances and 45 higher certificates.
“We are very proud of our learners and their dedication and determination. However, I must give applause to the teachers because it starts there. Our teachers are passionate and patient with the learners and very selfless because many gave up their Saturdays and Sundays to assist the pupils and that shows commitment,” he said.
Jikana said despite challenges at the school, keeping teachers happy had produced a conducive learning environment.
“If the teachers are happy, then the pupils are happy and if everyone is happy, learning becomes easy because no one has a reason not to put in the work, and even the pupils are eager to attend classes,” said Jikana.
He said the school’s best performing pupil was Liyema Maloyi, who received three distinctions for accounting, business studies and life orientation.
Jikana said their target had been 90% but they were still happy with the result. The aim was to have as many pupils as possible pass with a university entrance, instead of just passing.
Jikana said the only minor challenge they faced was that not all teachers were permanently employed, with some working in school governing body posts.
But he was confident the department would make a plan...