Siyaphakama high school, a high school in the small rural town Sterkstroom, is situated about 57km from Queenstown. The school was classified as a dysfunctional school with results below 20% for the past 10 years. The school was visited by the MEC of the Department of Education in the Eastern Cape at the beginning of the 2016 academic year. The MEC then said if the results are not going to improve the school will be closed at the end of 2016.
The District appointed a new principal and the Maths Center’s intervention started at the beginning of the 2nd term. The intervention focused on mathematics, accounting and physical sciences in grades 10 – 12.
Learners attended morning and afternoon clinics daily as well as Saturday classes. Small strides were made on a termly basis and results started improving on a term by term basis.
The mind-set of both the staff and the learners started changing and the will to succeed was becoming a major driving force. Parents support to the school and the activities of the intervention improved, making sure that the learners attend all classes offered.
The grade 12 results of 2016 made all stakeholders very proud.
The following table shows the improvement in mathematics, physical sciences and accounting:
These results were a remarkable improvement in comparison with the grade 12 results of the previous years. The commitment and the dedication by the teachers and learners to support the intervention activities were the key to this success story.
This achievement of Siyaphakama high school was rewarded by the district and the school received the following awards:
Proud principal , Mr Pongolo
