D12 back on top with 89,6 per cent pass rate

The Johannesburg West District (D12) has plenty to rave about after they it is back in the number spot in the region following the 2013 matric results.

To honor the class of 2013 the district held a grand D12 Awards Ceremony at the Unisa Campus in Florida on Friday 17 January to celebrate the accomplishment.

The district obtained a whopping 89,6 per cent pass rate in 2013, which is an improvement of 3,9 per cent to the 85,7 per cent pass rate achieved in 2012. The district also celebrates position three in the Gauteng Province and number five in the country.

But that’s not all.

The number of bachelor passes also improved by 12 per cent from 53 per cent in 2012 to 65 per cent in 2013. There was a big round of applause for townships schools as 12 of them managed to obtain a pass rate of more than 90 per cent.

Top D12 officials in attendance such as the District Director, Dennis Macuacua praised the class of 2013 but say that the outstanding results came thanks to the dedicated educators, parents and all stakeholders who will remain committed to support the district this academic year.

The Head of Department (HOD), Boy Ngobeni in his speech said, “The district is the beacon of hope. We are back where we belong, being number one. The class of 2013 made us proud with a pass rate of almost 90 per cent, which is a giant leap from 2012. Those who passed also did so with flying colors.”

Ngobeni added, “To those who failed, it does not mean that you are not intelligent. Failure is not final, it’s part of the experience in life. Go back to the drawing board and try again.”

The district made it clear that the pass rate goal for the class of 2014 is 95 per cent.

He quoted the late former president Nelson Mandela saying, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.

Despite the remarkable achievements in 2013, Ngobeni did not want to get carried away and added that the journey is still long.

“Let’s not over celebrate. Today is not just about pausing and reflecting back on what has been achieved, the mission is not accomplished yet with many challenges still lying ahead.”

Matriculants who excelled were also warned that complacency is the enemy of success.

Guest speaker for the night, Thabo Mashao, famous journalist with his own talk show on Channel 262 on DStv, added that pupils must continue their commitment to study like they did at school: “For success is never guaranteed, one can only increase your chances to succeed”.

“Don’t switch off that light (thinking cap). Just go out there and work hard.

“At university one has to be self-disciplined and persevere. The days of being fed with a spoon are over. Make a point of attending lectures; it’s not like going to McDonald’s. Don’t be a statistic; participate in as many group discussions as possible.

“Preparation is one of the many pillars to success. Studying is like a habit, you have to do it every day and every night. Another pillar to success is making sacrifices and managing your time.

“You all have dreams, don’t let it die. Don’t let fear bring you down, look it in the eye.”