Proud parents and teachers accompanied the bright learners to the awards ceremony, where Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzwandile Masina honoured the City’s top matric achievers for the class of 2016.
Masina has also increased the bursary fund from R10 million to R100 million, to increase opportunities for further education and training for young people across the region of Ekurhuleni.
Masina congratulated the class of 2016 and thanked the children’s parents and teachers for their support and assistance in grooming the learners to achieve good grades.
“Today we are using this platform to celebrate the work of these learners who are here, as they have made Ekurhuleni proud with their determination to achieve great marks,” said the mayor.
“I wish for all the learners who will be going to universities and tertiary institutions to be disciplined. They must remember that they are role models in their own society.”
He encouraged the learners to do research into scarce skills in South Africa and venture into those fields in order to develop the country.
“We are working towards building a university here in Ekurhuleni so that our children can be close to home. They need to be responsible. They should not burn institutions to get a message across. They are destroying the dreams of future generations.
“I wish every learner well in their future endeavours and may they continue to excel and keep the Ekurhuleni flag flying high,” Masina said.
Deputy Minister of Higher Education Mdudizi Manana said the problem South Africa is facing at the moment is not unemployed youth but unemployable youth.
“The problem is that our youth have no skills. Yes, our economy is in a bad state, but eventually when we recover we will have a problem because of many unskilled youth.
“People need to look into studying towards relevant fields, and SA is need of those trained in technical skills,” Manana said.
He advised young people not to feel that colleges offer inferior education.
“People should change their mindset that if you have studied in TVET colleges you won’t find employment. We need disciplined young people, not those wishing to disrupt our universities by burning facilities. I hope that every learner will be inspired to act and do well in universities in order to change their situations at home,” Manana said.
The Ekurhuleni bursary recipient graduates were also honoured at the awards ceremony. They were presented with certificates and an offer of internship with the Economic Development Department (EDD) Graduate Placement Programme.
Here is how Boksburg-based pupils, schools and districts performed:
Best performing learners overall:
Francisca van der Merwe (Hoërskool Oosterlig), Chris-Mari Halley (Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen), Jan Bornman (Hoërskool Oosterlig) and Salmaan Ghole (Boksburg High School)
Best performing learners from priority schools:
Glen Tsabadi (Windmill Park Secondary School)
Best performing learners in learning area:
Laetitia Makombe for history (Boksburg High School)
Best performing schools in the matric class of 2016 (rated at 100 per cent pass rate and highest number of bachelor’s passes):
Boksburg High School (second position)
Hoërskool Oosterlig (ninth position)
Most improved district: Ekurhuleni South.
The top learners received a full bursary, registration, tuition, accommodation, textbook fees and a framed certificate.
