Of the 131 learners recognised for their achievements were learners with special needs who had different barriers to learning and who made it into the top learners in the province.

A total of 2,180 learners entered matric at the beginning of the 2024 school year and 2,113 learners wrote the national senior certificate examinations in the province.

The barriers to learning include: blindness, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar, cerebral palsy, chronic, conduct disorder, deaf, deaf-blindness, depression, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyslexia, epilepsy, fetal alcohol syndrome, hard of hearing, language disorder, learning disability, and mental illness, to name a few.

One of these learners was assisted by another top learner to receive his prizes from the Free State premier and MEC of education. Photo: Facebook/Free State provincial government

“The Free State’s pass rate, which is the best in the country for the sixth consecutive year, is in line with the education department’s motto: No child is left behind,” said Free State MEC of Education Dr Julia Maboya.

“Our learners from special schools excelled in their studies even though they had barriers to their learning, but because of the support from the department and their educators, they were able to excel.”

The top learner in the category for learners with barriers to learning, for the 2024 matric year, is Hanru Nel from Martie du Plessis in Bloemfontein – a school for cerebral palsy, physically disabled, and learning-disabled learners.

“I was supported at my school in many ways, as I struggled to write and work with paper because I hate the texture and feel of it, so the school was very accommodating in letting me work on a laptop.”

Nel, who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder in germophobia, also known as mysophobia, said he was going to study education at CTU Training Solutions in Bloemfontein.

Kabelo Ncheka from the Bartimea School for Deaf and Blind in Thaba Nchu said the support she received from her school and teachers was amazing. “They were the best teachers and they were so patient with us.”

Ncheka plans to study education at CUT in Bloemfontein. “It feels so good to be recognised and celebrated today,” she said.

The learners received laptops, smartphones, travelling bags, tablets, and cash prizes at the department’s Well Done Function on Friday (17/1).

OFM News/Zenande Mpame cg