Adopt-a-School Foundation congratulates the 2020 matric class for soldiering through the Covid-19 challenges

“We concur with Minister Angie Motshekga and have no doubt the Class of 2020 would have achieved more had it not been for the pandemic. The Class of 2020 persevered through a very tough situation with many unknowns, yet more than 75% of the candidates attained the national senior certificate. This year’s matriculants also had more learners obtaining bachelor passes from 186,058 learners in 2019 to 210,820 in 2020, an increase of 24,762 learners,” said Banyana Mohajane, executive programmes, Adopt-a-School Foundation. Adopt-a-School Foundation, a partner entity of Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, supports 616 schools across the country implementing whole school development.

South Africa is one of the 22 countries that opted to continue with the grade 12 exit level national senior certificate examination, while 11 countries cancelled examinations due to the pandemic. According to the national senior certificate 2020 examination report, released by the Department of Basic Education, 607,226 candidates entered for the November 2020 NSC examination, however, 578,468 candidates sat for the exam. The results are a true testament the candidates gave it their all despite the challenging year.

The Adopt-a-School Foundation celebrates the Class of 2020 for its resilience, agility ability to soldier on against all odds. Amongst the Class of 2020 are 207 high schools supported by the foundation. Since 2002, Adopt-a-School Foundation and its partners have invested over R1bn in over a million learners across the 616 schools it supports nationally. The foundation converts schools into environments conducive to teaching and learning through the implementation of its four pillared whole school development model, which focuses on school leadership, curriculum, infrastructure and social welfare.

Amongst the Adopt-a-School Foundation 2020 matric class is Neo Mthombeni from Ngwathe Secondary School, a school that received whole school development funded by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). Ngwathe achieved 97.3% pass rate, and Mthombeni obtained seven distinctions and was recognised at the Free State Provincial Awards. Mthombeni applied to study chemical engineering at the University of Cape Town.

Kgabareng Technical School is another adopted school that produced great results, achieving a 100% pass rate. Kgabareng is one of 30 schools adopted by IDC from 2013. The school has benefitted from the four pillars of whole school development funded by IDC.

“Education is one of the key focus areas of the IDC’s social investment priorities. The foundation has enabled us to achieve measurable impact and outcomes in our adopted schools. Today, we celebrate the accomplishments of learners in the schools we support, and the impact of the long-standing partnership with Adopt-a-School Foundation,” says Tshepo Ramodibe, head of corporate affairs.

King Shaka High School in KwaZulu-Natal managed to improve its results despite the pandemic. The school achieved 85.7%, an improvement of 4.6% compared to the 81.1% achieved in 2019. Adopted by the foundation in 2009, King Shaka High School has received support in school leadership development and curriculum support for educators and learners funded by Grindrod.

“Grindrod views education as a critical factor in uplifting and empowering South Africans. We are very proud to be associated with Adopt-a-School Foundation and very proud to be contributing to the future prosperity of South Africa,” Andrew Waller, CEO of Grindrod Limited.

The foundation is still consolidating the overall performance of the high schools it supports. Adopt-a-School Foundation will share the achievement once this process has been finalised.

The Adopt-a-School purely relies on its donors who fund the implementation of whole school development in the schools it supports. The year 2020 was a tough year economically; the foundation is grateful that some of its donors, like IDC and Grindrod, amongst many, who were able to continue supporting education through this difficult time.

You, too, can be part of the matric results success in the future. Visit: www.adoptaschool.org.za to see how you can partner with Adopt-a-School Foundation and adopt a school to implement whole school development or donate towards the work of the foundation.

Adopt-a-School Foundation (AAS) is an entity of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation (CRF) and was officially established in 2002 by a group of concerned individuals, including Cyril Ramaphosa and Dr James Motlatsi. The foundation is registered as a Section 21 company with PBO status and has an independent board of directors.

The foundation works with a wide range of stakeholders including district, provincial and national departments of basic education, corporate donors, various service providers and best practice NGOs. The foundation implements whole school development – a holistic model aimed at improving the academic, infrastructural, social and security environment in schools.

There are currently 609 schools under the Adopt-a-School Foundation’s adoption programme. The foundation works in all nine provinces in South Africa, and in Lesotho and Mozambique.

For more information on Adopt-a-School top-performing visit the foundation’s website at www.adoptaschool.org.za. Email az.oc.loohcsatpoda@sbocajz or call 011 592 6580.