By Libuseng Nyaka
QWAQWA-Free State tops the national matric results of 2021 with an 87.2 percent pass rate, retaining the position it had held for three years running.
Four of the province ‘s five districts are in the top ten performing districts in the country .They are Motheo, Fezile Dabi, Lejweleputswa and Xhariep only Thabo Mofutsanyana district missed out in the list but had also performed above 80 percent.
Free State is followed by Gauteng and Western Cape with 82.8 and 81.2 percent, respectively. Four provinces North West, KwaZulu Natal, and Mpumalanga and Northern Cape have performed have performed above 70 percent while Limpopo is the least performing with 66.7 percent.
Despite all challenges that Free State encountered when roofs were blown away by storms and nearly destroyed fruits of hard work of both teachers and leaners , the province still managed to hold on its position one.
Congratulating Education MEC Tate Makgoe for hard work, FS premier Sisi Ntombela recounts on an incident when Makgoe made a bold declaration that he would make it a hat-trick of triumphs.
“True to his character, MEC Makgoe kept his word and duly delivered on his promise. We are walking around with our heads held high, because once again, we are the talk of the whole country, ”Ntombela said.
Ntombela also ensured that learners who have performed well will be get government bursaries.
“We have a working partnership with NSFAS to ensure that all qualifying learners are funded ,while also avowing duplication of funding.”
Education MEC Tate Makgoe has described a class of 2021 as simple the best . He said this on Friday during a well done function.
“Free State had nothing to proof any more but we have to work harder to improve quality. That is why we have taken strategy of focusing on primary schools.”
Revealing a secret to Free state success which has toppled a national matric results for six year since 2012 Makgoe attributed that to a team work.
“Our secret is mobilising whole community behind education. Mayors and councillors , premier and community , that is why when we are number one we are all celebrating .”
He said Free State made sure that it does not paise covid-19 but defeat it.
When announcing matric results of 2021 on Thursday , Basic education minister Angie Motshekga echoed Premier Sisi Ntombela.
Motshekga said indeed MEC Makgoe lived up to his promise of making it difficult to unseat from its current position.
‘‘he said he would beat them repeatedly until they get used to it, that he is number one.”
