Khutsong matriculants shine despite disruptions

The three high schools in Khutsong township west of Johannesburg have produced good matric results despite many disruptions to their academic year.

Matric students were sent to a study camp at Taung after schooling at Khutsong came to a standstill for about four months, due to both demarcation protests and the teachers' strike. MEC for education in North West Johannes Tselapedi says Relebogile secondary school obtained 62% pass rate, Tswasongu secondary got 74.6% and Badirile secondary managed 80.3%.

Tselapedi says his department will put more focus on 'trapped' or underperforming schools in the province in the coming year. Trapped schools are those with a pass rate of below 60%. This year the number of trapped schools has increased from last year's 142 to 146. Most of the trapped schools are found in the deep rural areas of the province.