Tsakani – The JE Malepe Secondary School deputy principal, Sibongile Kambi, is proud of the school’s strong matric performance despite a year of significant challenges.She said the school was excited about the Class of 2025’s results, noting that the performance was commendable given the difficult circumstances.Kambi said the school had serious disruptions, including infrastructure-related challenges and a prolonged water crisis, which meant learners missed about 20 school days.“Despite these disruptions, we achieved a pass rate of 80.9%, with the school’s success attributed to intensive interventions, including extra classes and exam camps.“Learners attended lessons on weekends, during school holidays and throughout the year, with no breaks,” she said.
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Kambi added that these efforts put the school under financial strain because management ensured the learners were well cared for during the extended hours.“Our feeding scheme usually provides basics, such as tinned fish, milk, and soya. However, we made sure to provide proper meals, including meat, so that our matrics could feel comfortable and focused at school,” she said.Kambi said the school aimed to create a safe and supportive learning environment where learners could study, work in groups and help one another in areas they did not understand.She said this helped them cope with their challenges at home and allowed them to concentrate on their studies when at school.Looking ahead, Kambi highlighted the school’s urgent needs, particularly infrastructure and furniture.“The school is overcrowded and has outgrown its current facilities. Although there is hope that additional prefabricated classrooms will be provided, nothing has been confirmed yet.“We often experience breakages and insufficient furniture, which often results in multiple learners sharing one chair.“We appeal to businesses, individuals and community stakeholders to assist the school,” she said.On future performance, Kambi said the school’s target is always a 100% pass rate.She emphasised that no learner should fail and that intervention programmes are already in place, including for progressed learners.“If we fall short, it will not be below 80%, but our aim remains 100%,” she said.She concluded with words of encouragement to learners who did not pass matric.“This is not the end of the world. Learners must reflect and consider second chances. There are institutions that can assist, and as a school, we do not turn our backs on them. They are welcome to come for extra classes and support,” Kambi said.She reaffirmed the school’s commitment to supporting all learners and ensuring that every child is given the opportunity to succeed.
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Learners with distinctions:• Nontokozo Maseko: IsiZulu home language (HL), English first additional language (FAL), geography, tourism, history, life orientation;• Lindokuhle Dladla: IsiZulu HL, English FAL, life sciences, life orientation, geography;• Caswall Sibuyi: Accounting, economics, business studies, life orientation;• Buhle Masuku: Tourism, IsiZulu HL, English FAL, life orientation;• Siphiwe Makhubo: Maths, geography;• Happy Nxumalo: IsiZulu HL, maths literacy;• Nhlanhla Balfour: IsiZulu HL, life orientation;• Lesedi Nkhabu: Life orientation, tourism;• Mbali Dlamini: Life orientation, tourism, IsiZulu HL.
Title: JE
Caption: The top achievers at JE Malepe Secondary School.
Photo: Nomsa Ngubeni
Description: Former matric learners standing near the school board.
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