‘We worked hard to beat the odds’
“THE matric results painted a picture that there’s a long way to go before we turn the corner. The 60.7 percent pass rate is a decline, and we are disappointed.”
These were the words of Education MEC Peggy Nkonyeni after the matric results were released this week.
In KwaZulu-Natal, 162 658 pupils wrote the exams and 98 761 passed, making it a 60.7 percent pass rate, down from the 69.7 percent pass rate of 2014.
“We thought Operation Bounce Back was working as expected, but unfortunately we are experiencing this decline.
“Now we are going back to the drawing board to identify where it went wrong,” said Nkonyeni.
Although the MEC admitted the results were poor, she said they had managed to produce a high number who will be accepted at universities.
Among pupils who passed with flying colours were Nontobeko Mbuyazwe, 18, and her best friend, Nomfundo Tembe, 19, who were both born with albinism.
They both achieved top honours for special needs pupils.
The Arthur Blaxal High School pupils have plans to teach their communities about albinism.
“I am from Richards Bay and at home and in my community they love me for who I am. They have never discriminated against me, but I know there are people with albinism who are mistreated and I want that to come to an end.
“I do get people staring at me. Although they will not say anything to my face, you can tell that they see me differently. Some people even ask to take pictures with me,” said Nontobeko.
Nomfundo, who comes from Manguzi in northern KwaZulu-Natal, where brutal killings of people with albinism are rife, said she planned to complete her studies at university and go back to assist her community.
“I stayed in boarding school from a young age and therefore I have never been discriminated against. But it breaks my heart to hear stories about my community who have a belief that people with albinism should be killed for muti.
“I will be studying to become a lawyer because I want to represent all those who have been victims. My dream is to also make life better at home because we are a huge extended family and no one works. Life is very tough,” said Nomfundo.
The two best friends said they had achieved good marks because they had been consistent with their studies.
“We studied hard because we knew where we came from. We had to pass with distinctions so that we could qualify for the NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme).
“It was a bonus to be invited by the MEC to receive a certifi- cate. I had not expected it. I had even given away my uniform. When I was told I had to wear my uniform for the awards, I borrowed grey pants and a T-shirt from my brother,” said Nontobeko.