Free State Education MEC Tate Makgoe said the township schools on their own have outperformed all provinces, despite the social challenges they endured throughout 2022. The 52 schools that obtained a 100% pass rate, is a decrease of 6 schools from last year. However, 22 of those schools are township schools.

Makgoe further added that the department had a 90/40 target, which entails a 90% pass rate and a 40% bachelor rate. Out of 343 schools, 144 achieved this target with township schools making up 55,6% of those schools. Makgoe also mentioned that the Intuthuko-Katleho Secondary School in Vrede received an 87,6% pass rate and 35,8% bachelor passes, despite the school burning down last year.

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Teachers and learners of this school were moved to two separate schools where they attended classes in the vacant classrooms of those schools.

"We thank the community of Vrede, parents, teachers, Phumelela Local Municipality, officials from the department, business people who donated critical items for learning and teaching to resume, and mostly learners who demonstrated remarkable resilience in dealing with the aftermath of the destruction of their school," he added.

Makgoe noted that the teachers' and learners' resilience in using innovative teaching methods through learner barriers such as load-shedding, is a testimony to their commitment.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi and Bamabatha Giko