Adams’ bouquets to PAHS matrics of 2023
Headmaster thanks teachers, parents
“We measure ourselves against ourselves.” That was the message from Port Alfred High School headmaster Nigel Adams to an audience of parents, teachers and pupils at the matric results handover ceremony at the school hall on Friday.
Adams was emphasising to his audience that the school sets its own high standards and was not in competition with any other school when it came to matric results.
PAHS achieved a 98.6% pass rate, with 69 pupils having sat for the matric exams.
Adams congratulating the matric class of 2023, teachers and parents at the function on Friday, introduced dux pupil Lathitha Gobane (average 79.2%) and second on the top achievers list, Alyson van der Merwe (average 78%) to the audience.
Third on the list of matric achievers was Matthew Pienaar (75%), Adam Price (71.25%) and Daniel Meiring (71%).
Adams said teachers and parents had played a pivotal role in the success of the class of 2023 who fell marginally short of achieving a 100% pass for the school.
He especially thanked parents for their contribution because “we asked you as a parents to work with us as partners to make it a successful year”.
Adams thanked the HoDs in the physical sciences, life orientation, business studies, Afrikaans and maths literacy departments, among others, whose pupils achieved a 100% pass rate in those subjects.
Not forgetting the pupils, Adams said they deserved a round of applause for their hard work to come out on top.
“Our school has consistently come out in the 90s in terms of average percentage pass rates for the last number of years and the pass rate is growing each year,” he said.
In 2021, the school achieved a 95.1% pass rate, and 94% in 2022.
“The release of the matric results marks the pivotal moment of change for both the Grade 12 learners and their parents.
“In celebration of our 140th year, under the 2023 theme of Beacon of Hope, we are very proud of our matric class of 2023 for the way they served as a light at Port Alfred High School and the way they hold the promise of hope.”
He said PAHS was “not in competition with any other school We are all in the business of education and like at all schools across South Africa, our primary aim is to educate our children.
“Especially when it comes to education in South Africa, we cannot always compare the different schools to each other. So the situation at this school is not the same as at another school so we measure ourselves against ourselves,” Adams said.
He said 40 pupils obtained Bachelor’s passes compared to 36 in 2022, while 26 received a diploma passes, compared to seven in 2022, and two received higher certificate passes.
Amid the euphoria of the 2023 results, Adams said those in the background who laid the platform for matric success should not be forgotten.
“Remember in education sometimes we focus too much on Grade 12 but who laid the foundation for the matrics’ success? It’s teachers in the foundation, intermediary phase and so on all teachers have a hand in these results.
“And non-teaching staff, of course. Do you know how good I feel when I receive messages from people saying ‘the school looks impeccable
“The school is a place of teaching and learning. And this is what we want all schools to be or look like. And this can only be achieved through our nonteaching staff. They make this a conducive environment for learning and teaching,” he said.
Thrilled dux pupil Lathitha said she felt quite overwhelmed with her results.
“I am thankful, really I am. Being a dux student I actually have no words it has been one crazy year last year.
“I took on some subjects where I had some highs and lows, but one just keeps on pushing.
“I set my own standards of course but you don’t always achieve them but you just keep on pushing while focusing on the goal.”
Lathitha, who will be following a career in engineering science, is aware that the hard work is not over as she preparesd for the next phase of academic life.
“At first I was a little scared because I am not going to have my family around. I am going to be on my own but I also have a different perspective on it.
“I see it as being exciting, a great challenge, a new adventure and a new environment.”
Second top matric pupil Alyson van der Merwe, who will be following a career in accounting sciences towards becoming a chartered accountant, at Rhodes University, said she was ecstatic because there were many challenges she had to face last year.
“I feel a bit overwhelmed and excited and there is now a new chapter I have to start off with again.
“School itself was very difficult for me, but I just worked hard and kept my focus on my goal.
“I feel OK and prepared for my next phase at Rhodes because I am fortunate to have family in Makhanda and I have a sibling at the university, which is a great help too,” said Alyson.