The province was declared the country’s top-performing province with its 91% pass rate at the announcement of the matric pass rate on Monday (13/1).

Four Free State districts secured places among the top ten districts, out of 77 districts nationally.

100 top learners in the province will be recognised and celebrated for their achievements at this event.

The plans of the top three learners in the province are:

•  Susan Bender from Hoërskool Voortrekker in Bethlehem will study medicine at the University of the Free State.
• Christiaan Goosen from Grey College in Bloemfontein will study medicine at the University of the Free State.
• Lehlohonolo Mokhothu from JC Motumi Secondary School at Odendaalsrus will study mechanical and megatronic engineering at the University of Cape Town.

The Free State’s top 10 learners celebrate with education officials. Photo: Zenande Mpame

“Four of our districts achieved a pass rate of above 90% and all four made it to the top nationally,” said MEC of Education, Dr MJ Maboya.

“Fezile Dabi obtained position two nationally and our six key subjects obtained position one nationally.”

‘We are challenging the Class of 2025’ 

To the class of 2025 we are challenging them to better the performance of the class of 2024, they need to sustain it and not drop, said Motheo district director December Moloi. “We expect them to obtain a 95% pass rate and a 50% in bachelor passes.”

He said that as the biggest district in the province in terms of the number of learners, we have improved and obtained a 92.2% pass rate, pushing the province’s pass rate up to 91%.

The Free State Department of Education has established five schools to help learners who did not pass Grade 12 or want to improve their Grade 12 examination results.

The schools cater to all learners who have written the national senior certificate examinations since it was introduced.

Learners who did not pass or who did not do well are encouraged to register at the various finishing schools in the province to improve their results.

The schools are:

• Selokisa Secondary Finishing School in Botshabelo.
• Tumahole Secondary Finishing School in Parys.
• Riverside Secondary Finishing School in Phuthaditjhaba.
• Mohokare Secondary Finishing School in Zastron.
• Tshepo Themba Secondary Finishing School in Thabong.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame cg/mvh