Polokwane - Despite being the second worst performing province in the country, Limpopo has improved its results from a 57.9% pass rate in 2010 to 63.9% in 2011.
Delivering the 2011 matric results in Polokwane on Thursday, Education MEC Dickson Masemola said of the 73 731 matrics who wrote the final exams last year, 47 091 managed to pass.
"I am extremely delighted to announce that our pass percentage for this year is 63.9%, which is a significant growth and excellent performance for the province... We are no longer regarded as an underperforming department by national standards.
"We are a performing department from where we have started. Today's exuberant overjoy is as a result of the remarkable achievement we have made," said Masemola.
The MEC said when he joined the department in 2009, it produced a 48.9% pass rate.
"And last year in 2010, we obtained 57.9% pass rate, which was a good performance for the province. The 2011 matric exam produced 12 946 Bachelors which means, that is their contribution to the national pool of candidates who will be going to universities," he said.
Masemola said while they were working hard to improve, there were three schools that had a 0% pass rate.
He said the schools included Sterkrivier Combined School in Mokopane and Makidi Secondary School and Seroletshidi Secondary, both in Sekhukhune.
Masemola also mentioned that Mbilwi Secondary School in Thohoyandou had once again occupied the number one spot as best performing school in the province.
He said Mbilwi produced 256 matrics who qualify for Bachelor degrees, while Hoerskool Pietersburg in Polokwane produced 170 matrics who qualify for Bachelor degrees.
The third best performing school is Thengwe Secondary in Tshilamba with 142 matrics who qualify for Bachelor degrees.
The MEC also acknowledged the three top matrics in the province.
"These are the best learners who obtained the highest aggregate in their best six subjects, excluding Life Orientation," he said.
The first position went to Mukhethwa Geoffrey Murodovha from Mbilwi Secondary School with 1 693 points; second position went to Marissa Oerlemans from Hoerskool Pietersburg with 1 683 points, and position three went to Kevin Leon Lufuno Mutepe from Mbilwi Secondary School with 1 673 points.
Masemola said he was happy that once again Limpopo had produced the overall best performer from a rural school.
"In 2010, the Overall Best Learner came from a rural school, Dendron Secondary School. This year as well, our best overall learner comes from a rural school. The school that has produced this learner is one of our best schools not only in the province but in the country," he said.
