Poorest Lusikisiki schools defy odds with 94.8% pass

APPLAUDING the achievement of rural schools, the Eastern Cape education department singled out two schools of the most impoverished villages in Lusikisiki, which have defied the odds by each achieving a 94.8% pass rate in their matric results, despite having to work with meagre resources.

One of the schools improved by 66% from a dismal 28%.

Department spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said yesterday from being regarded as one of the underperforming schools in their district, Ben Mali Senior Secondary School from Luqhoqhweni village improved by 66% (from the dismal 28.8% it recorded in 2016) and now obtained 94.82%, while Siwali High School located in Mcobothini village improved by 19% to score 94.82%, up from the 75% it achieved the previous year.

This effectively makes the two schools the top achievers in the O R Tambo Coastal district, comprising Ngqeleni, Libode, Port St Johns, Lusikisiki and Flagstaff.

The OR Tambo Coastal district is the most improved in the province.

“These schools are a beacon of hope. In fact rural schools have done us proud. The department is embarking on a programme to assist schools like these to maintain their standards or even improve, while it is also pushing lesser performers to do better. We aim not to have any school backtracking,” said Mtima.

Mtima said education MEC Mandla Makupula had much praise for district director Varkeychan Joseph, who had worked diligently with all stakeholders to ensure improved education in the district.

He said there were other excellent performers in the district, such as Lutshaya High with 93.3% and Langa High, with 94.3%. —