‘Grateful and proud’: Gauteng students rise to the top despite Covid-19

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced the 76.2% pass rate on Monday. 

This is a drop of 5.1% compared to 2019.

Gugulethu Thusi, who attended Bhukulani Secondary School in Soweto, says extra classes helped her achieve good grades.  

“I was doing my matric here in 2020 and I have managed to obtain 6 distinctions, having missed the seventh one by 1%. I am disappointed a bit that I couldn’t reach it but I am proud of what I have accomplished. 

“I am very grateful to the highest God, my parents, my family, and most of all, my educators and the program which is Kutlwanong Centre for Maths, Science, and Technology because it has helped us with extra classes for Mathematics and Physical Sciences, of which I have managed to score 97% for Physical Sciences and 91% for Mathematics.

Thusi also thanked her teachers for pushing them to study despite the Covid-enforced closure of schools. 

 “It was a challenging year, but we managed to persevere because we have been taught to build character. They taught us that your attitude determines your altitude, so it wouldn’t matter whatever circumstances that life throws at us. 

“We had to make sure that if you want to accomplish our dreams, we have to work hard and manage to reach them because there is no excuse, there is no one to blame, you can’t blame coronavirus for not finishing school and it was our choice to wake up, go to school so that we can make better lives for ourselves,” adds Thusi. 

 Watch video of Gugulethu Thusi below

Classmate Ntokozo Hlongwane says Covid-19 changed his mindset.

“I was doing seven subjects and I was able to obtain six distinctions. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to obtain the seventh one.  

“I am very grateful for the hard work that I put in, the sleepless nights I put in, all the hard work and the supports I got especially from my parents and my teachers.

“I am so grateful that Covid-19 caught us the class of 2020 because for me, Covid-19 was an opportunity, a way of changing your mindset, a way of being independent and we were able to learn on our own and chow the content on our own.” 

 Watch video of Ntokozo Hlongwane below 

Another top achiever is Sinesipho Ngobese from Edenvale High School, who achieved five distinctions. 

 “I received five distinctions on Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Sciences, Accounting, and Life Orientation. I am super excited and very much proud of myself.

 “My dream is to go study Actuarial Science. I just need to submit my results and hopefully get feedback. Covid-19 was a very hectic year for me, stressful, and hectic and very difficult during the pandemic, and to get such results during such a difficult time is exceptional.”