Highs and lows of Aberdeen Secondary’s matric results
The Class of 2018 matriculants at Aberdeen Secondary School scored a 35% pass rate, on a par with the results of the 2017 group.
Of the 40 full-time learners in Grade 12 last year, 14 passed. There were also four progressed learners, but unfortunately, none of these passed.
Two pupils, Tamia de Vos and Valentino Saayman, achieved a bachelor pass, enabling them to study a degree course at university, and seven qualified to study for a diploma course at a college or university. The remaining five earned a higher certificate, enabling them to study at a TVET College (formerly FET college), such as Eastcape Midlands College in Graaff-reinet. In addition to this, a total of 10 learners have qualified to write the supplementary exams in June.
All the successful students without exception deserved their good results and worked very hard to achieve their goals. Most of them are unsure of their future plans at this stage.
Principal Timotheus Webb is very disheartened with the poor pass rate, especially after all the efforts put in by the teachers to help the learners. From the first term last year, the school put into place various intervention programmes, including extra classes after school and on weekends on a regular basis.
Many of the teachers also gave up time in the holidays, giving extra lessons during both the Easter and winter breaks.
Not all of the learners took advantage of this extra help, and the teachers’ efforts were frustrated in many cases by the lack of interest shown.
Webb is determined to persevere with these interventions, and it is hoped that the Class of 2019 will once again restore the reputation of the school.
The strategy for this year’s group will be to place a high emphasis on informal tasks and to assist the learners to study independently with a sense of responsibility. Of the 32 matriculants in 2019, only nine of them actually passed Grade 11, with the rest being progressed learners (ie those who only passed four subjects).
These nine are strong candidates, and every effort will be made to motivate them to persevere and give of their best.
Although the results overall from last year’s matrics were not good, Aberdeen is proud of the 14 youngsters who passed, some of whom overcame very difficult circumstances. Their positive attitude and commitment, and the teachers' efforts have been rewarded.