Learners and teachers at Bhukulani Secondary School in Zondi, Soweto, received a timely morale booster on the first day of their academic year, when ANC president Jacob Zuma and Gauteng education MEC Angie Motshekga paid them a visit this morning.
The visit was in celebration of the good matric results that the schools has produced last year as well as to motivate learners to continue to work hard. The school obtained an overall pass rate of 98.31%.
This means out of 118 learners who sat for the examination, 116 passed, with 73 of them qualifying to pursue tertiary education. Only two learners failed but they do qualify for supplementary examinations.
The good pass rate contrasts sharply with the results of the past few years, which used to hover around 20%. But the school has since turned the corner and not only is it held as a beacon of hope in a township wracked by major social challenges like poverty and crime but has become one of the much sought after learning institutions in the region.
Addressing the jubilant learners, teachers and parents, Motshekga said she is proud of the school because it proved that schools in the townships could also produce admirable results. She attributed the high pass rate by most schools in the region to a close working relationship between her department and the districts serving the areas.
The audience, mostly learners burst into ululations and screams of joy when Zuma was introduced to speak. Zuma said: “I am over excited to come here to celebrate with you the success of hard work as a result of what you (learners and teacher) put in to produce these excellent results.”
He said this is particularly exciting for a school that “I am told used to produce dismal results and was at one point almost turned into a police station” because of high level of disorganization.
Drawing on his party’s recently launched manifesto on education, Zuma said the ANC has identified education as critical empowerment tool. “The ANC takes education seriously because it empowers its citizens so that they can take part in building this country,” said Zuma.
He said he is greatly encouraged because the school managed to produce good results even though it did not have enough resources. Zuma said he knows of other schools, which despite being situated in the deep rural parts of the country, manage to obtain excellent matric results every year. “It shows there is something extra-ordinary that they do and I think that is dedication and commitment from both teachers and learners,” he said.
“If you work hard, have a clear focus, you will succeed. Hard work always pays. Your task is to learn and as we building South Africa and one of the key building blocks is education,” concluded Zuma.
As they clap exuberantly, some stopped short of launching into Zuma’s trademark song: “Awulethe umshini wami“. Some walked away rather dejected while ANC supporters went outside the school premises to indulge in a series of songs in praise of their leader.