Mafikeng - Learners at one of the best performing schools in the North West, the St Mary's High School, were excited this morning to begin the 2009 academic year and hope to maintain the 100 percent pass rate received at the school last year.
All 49 matriculants who wrote their examination last year passed and 56.9 percent of the learners met the requirements for admission to higher institutions.
Learners, speaking to BuaNews on the first day of schooling on Wednesday, said they started off well in the morning and were looking forward to the best year of learning in 2009.
A Grade 11 learner at the school, Ophitletse Chabeli said he was very excited about going back to school this year and hoped that 2009 will be the best year for him.
"I want to prepare well for my matric year in 2010 and also decide carefully about my career this year so that I don't make any mistakes in choosing the wrong career," he said.
He said when he arrived at the school in the morning the classes were clean and all the teachers were ready to start the new academic year.
"We started learning immediately as teachers and students were prepared and eager to continue with the 2009 syllabus."
North West MEC for Education, Jonnanes Tselapedi, who visited the school in the morning, said he was satisfied that the school conducted itself well during the first day of school.
He said the school was one of the best performing schools in the area of Mafikeng in terms of the matric results and encouraged them to keep up the good work.
"I am impressed by the school environment, the learners and the teachers of this school; you can just see when you get here - that the school has a sense of discipline.
"I am not surprised by the good matric results they received last year. I just want to encourage you to make sure that you keep the 100 percent position and even achieve more this year," he said.
The school principal of St Mary's High School, Paki Gill promised MEC Tselapedi that they would work hard to make sure they increased the number of distinctions and exemptions this year.
The school, which is situated in the rural village, has being showing an increase in its matric results in the past three years.
In 2006, 2007 and 2008, the school received 63, 69 and 100 percent respectively.
Mr Gill said that except for the challenge of a shortage of classes in their school everything was going well and they would ensure the school continues to be one of the best in the province.
"We have prepared well for the re-opening of our school, our teachers and learners came in early and we got off to a good start."
MEC Tselapedi also visited the Lotlamoreng Primary School to check that schooling got underway on the first day.
