Against the background of excited chatter at the Gadra Matric School, an overjoyed Vuyokazi Gwarube held up her son's matric results. "I am so happy. I don't know how to thank you," she told Gadra principal Melanie Lancaster.
Against the background of excited chatter at the Gadra Matric School, an overjoyed Vuyokazi Gwarube held up her son's matric results. "I am so happy. I don't know how to thank you," she told Gadra principal Melanie Lancaster.
Her son, Siyamcela Gwarube is just one of Gadra's many students who have collectively achieved a 92% subject pass rate for the year 2011, and in the process produced 47 Bachelor’s passes. "We are delighted that we have five individual distinctions. We have had very dramatic improvements," said Lancaster.
One of their top students, Nokubonga Mabovula, achieved a 70% aggregate in the subjects she enrolled for at Gadra Matric School. "I am delighted with her marks," Lancaster said. "She is a very able student and will succeed in her career path."
Lancaster said Nokubonga's dramatic improvement in her marks followed the same pattern as most of their students. "That is what makes me extremely happy," Lancaster said. According to a Gadra press statement, the school offers a one-year full-time programme for selected students to rewrite key National Senior Certificate (NSC) subjects and attain an NSC pass or improved NSC results for entrance into tertiary studies.
"For Gadra Matric School, the emphasis is on good-quality, and highly personalised teaching, aimed at assisting diligent learners to improve their levels," the press release said. Lancaster said intense dedication by students and teachers, learning different study methods and thinking skills, as well as thinking out the box were the ingredients to the successful year. "If they commit, miracles can happen," Lancaster said.
Nokubonga, who is from Alice, was delighted with her marks in Religion Studies, 85% and Life Sciences, 78%. In 2010, she passed her matric with a diploma, but applied to Gadra last year and persevered for a bachelor pass, in order to study towards a medical degree.
"I was taken at Rhodes University for Pharmacy, but my other prospect is Wits University. My future plan is to specialise in either gynaecology or ear, nose and throat," said Nokubonga, who praised her teachers.
"The teachers are very dedicated, especially Mrs Swift, who takes life sciences and physical science and Reverend Probert, who took me for religious studies. I am grateful to Mr Jackson for the extra lessons and Mrs Lancaster for all her support and encouragement."
Simone Randall, who previously failed matric, is now looking at all-round improved marks in her subjects, including as 73% for maths literacy. She has now been accepted to this year's Netcare Enrolled Nurse Assistance Programme in Port Elizabeth.
Thrilled about her new prospects in life, she said, "I am excited. It has not kicked in yet, it's still sinking in." She said, "You should persevere, no matter what is going on at home. I had problems at home, but not to say that is an excuse to fail. You just have to persevere."
