Despite the learners of West Bank High School and the surrounding community of Wesbank facing many challenges the school shone brightly at the Western Cape Matric Awards held last Thursday at the premier’s residence, Leeuwenhof.
Boasting a remarkable matric pass rate increase of 18% from 67.9% in 2023 to 85.9% in 2024, the school was awarded as the third most improved public school.
These awards went to 10 public schools with 30 or more matric candidates that have shown the greatest improvement in pass rate from 2022 to 2024. The criteria also include consistency in the number of Grade 12 candidates over the three years.
Admitting it took a lot of hard work, acting principal Danielle Brikkels said their goal is still to get to 100%. ”If we could increase 18% in 2024, we can surely increase with 14.1% in 2025.”
Effort
Brikkels, who has been at the school since 2013 and acting principal since February last year, acknowledged a team of dedicated teachers who offered up their time and even money.
“They offered up their holidays, presented sunrise classes, ninth-period classes, accompanied learners to (the education department’s) Back on Track classes.
“They used their own money to purchase incentives or meals for the learners going the extra mile to achieve improved results.
“Each staff member had three to four mentees whom they supported throughout the year,” she said.
Throughout last year the school pulled motivational speakers in to address the Grade 12s once a month – former learners and others, some from within the community, people whom the learners could relate to, Brikkels explained.
“Something else that was different last year (is that) we had service providers onboard. Our learners could write (exams) without hunger pangs.”
Thanks to various food donors the matrics could eat a meal before and after writing their exams.
When TygerBurger reported on the feeding project in November last year, the education department’s school social worker at West Bank High, Samantha Williams, said; “Taking hunger away gives learners a fighting chance.” She explained the initiative was much more than just about food as it also “fosters a sense of care and support.”
Brikkels said Williams’ role was significant. “When learners had psychosocial issues we could refer them to her.
She regularly came to speak to them, she arranged for universities to talk to them and other empowering sessions.
“The more they were exposed to these talks, the more they started to believe in themselves.”
Brikkels is aware of the many challenges the learners and the community face.
“We cannot just ignore the challenges. This is why we need to educate our learners so they can be school ambassadors and also ambassadors for their families.
“They can bring change in their environment, and the community.
“There is much more than just gangsterism, much more than just poverty. They need to have that hunger for education.”
Brikkels and team want to help their learners achieve their goals, be responsible citizens, and dream beyond Wesbank.
“They can be those sunflowers that shine amidst the mud, the challenges and difficulties,” Brikkels said.
