Pretoria - For many learners in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, the hard work throughout the year has finally paid off.
A lengthy holiday during the World Cup and a teachers' strike did not stop the Class of 2010 from achieving good results.
At Soshnaguve Technical High School, Deputy Principal Ralenaka Sepoloale told BuaNews that they were excited about the school's results.
The school achieved 89 percent pass rate - a 50 percent improvement from the 2009 results.
Asked about his recipe for success, Sepoloale attributed the results to dedicated teachers and parents who were always on hand to support and give advice on how revision should be conducted.
"I would like to thank all the teachers, parents and learners who showed commitment and worked very hard," said Sepoloale.
He also said he was amazed at the dedication of staff and learners who held extra classes to catch up on lost schooling time. "All our learners attended the extra classes without fail. Some of the learners even remained behind to study by themselves after the classes had ended."
One of the learners, Thabile Ngwenya, 17, accompanied by her parents, arrived at the school early this morning to get a copy of her official results after she read in the newspaper that she had passed with a B symbol.
She told BuaNews that this year, she would like to study law at Wits University.
"I have worked hard to achieve these good results, so I am excited," she said, adding that she had always wanted to pursue a career in law. "I know now that I will soon be an advocate."
Moipone Komane, 20, said: "If it goes well with finances, I would like to study medicine at Medunsa and one day become a doctor."
Seventeen-year-old Mahlatsi Doshomane could not stop smiling after receiving her statement of results from the school. The future chemical engineer said she had worked hard consistently throughout the year and challenged herself to achieve high marks.
She encouraged those who had not passed to pursue various avenues and not give up on getting a matric pass.
A total of 179 learners wrote the 2010 National Senior Certificate exams at the school - 19 of them did not pass the exams.
One parent, whose child did not pass the exams, Joseph Mawae, said he would ensure his son passed the exams at the end of this year.
"My son did not make it. I hope that this year he will make it. He had too many disruptions and I will personally see to it that he succeeds," he said.
