Celebrating the 2023 Matric Class!

IkamvaYouth Gauteng and North West branches celebrate 86% pass rate in the 2023 National Senior Certificate Matric results

Nationally, IkamvaYouth celebrates its 21st anniversary with great matric results, obtaining a 89% pass rate marking a notable 5% improvement compared to the 2022 results. The IkamvaYouth Gauteng and North West branches achieved an impressive 86% pass rate, with 41 distinctions, 64% Bachelor Passes and Diploma Pass. The Diepsloot branch obtained a stellar 100% pass rate; overall the regional results underscore the hard work and dedication of our learners, tutors, stakeholders and IkamvaYouth team, firmly placing IkamvaYouth at the forefront of academic success.

This matric cohort conquered load-shedding and the Covid-19 pandemic leading to receiving their results, this marks two decades of IkamvaYouth’s unwavering commitment and the success of our formidable tutoring model in assisting young people gain access to quality education, skills development, and employment.

Below are the achievements of each branch in the Gauteng and North West region:

• Diepsloot branch achieved a stellar 100% pass rate with 79% bachelor passes and 17% diplomas, and 96% tertiary eligibility
• Ikageng branch obtained an excellent 92% pass rate with 25% bachelor passes and 52% diplomas, and 77% tertiary eligibility
• Ivory Park celebrated its 90% pass rate which is a vast improvement from its 2022 achievement of 70% pass rate
• Mamelodi obtained 87%; Ebony Park at 81%, while Mahikeng achieved a 67% pass rate.

 

The Diepsloot branch’s top performing learner, Elisa Macamo, from Diepsloot Combined Secondary School gave some insight into how she became part of IY and her schooling journey in light of the challenges faced:

“Three of my friends were part of the IY programme already, and I was spotted by one of the IY tutors who was concerned about me not being on the tutoring programme. He facilitated my application into the programme. Ever since I joined the programme, my self-esteem improved along with my academic results. Today I have achieved a Bachelors pass with 5 distinctions, I am now ready to start my medicine career to meet my Dermatologist destiny. Through the peer-support system and all the excursions I attended at IkamvaYouth, I met a lot of study buddies – since then I have discovered a lot about myself, especially my ability to build positive relationships with diverse individuals and groups”.

 

Further than academic proficiency, IkamvaYouth remains dedicated to shaping young people into leaders with critical skills necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

• Ntombi Mahlangu, IkamvaYouth District Manager, Gauteng and The North West

 

The class of 2023, overcoming obstacles to prevail

The 2023 academic year saw IkamvaYouth learners in the Western Cape badly affected by taxi violence as it prevented our staff and tutors from offering quality tutoring to learners. However, the region was able to develop catch up plans for learners working very close with schools. 

 

In addition to the taxi violence, the load-shedding forced the matriculants to constantly review their study time-table. The negative impact of load-shedding cannot be overlooked as it affects learners in many ways including mentally. The class of matriculants should be applauded for showing signs of resilience despite challenges they encountered on the road to matric. 

 

The intense tutoring programme has once again yielded positive results for the Western Cape region, with the six branches achieving an overall 92% pass rate in matric and 64 distinctions.

 

Below is the breakdown of each branch performed in matric 2023:

 

1. Atlantis 96% obtained, 63% bachelors, 22% diplomas, 12% higher certificates
2. Gugulethu 89% obtained, 65% bachelors, 22% diplomas, 3% higher certificates. 
3. Kuyasa 98%  obtained, 65% bachelors, 26% diplomas, 7% higher certificates 
4. Makhaza 96% obtained, 77% bachelors, 15% diplomas, 4% higher certificates
5. Masiphumelele 85% obtained, 54% bachelors, 20% diplomas, 12% higher certificates. 
6. Nyanga 90% obtained, 59% bachelors, 19% diplomas, 12% higher certificates

 

Linathi Nkampule from Harry Gwala Senior Secondary School also reflected on the impact  IkamvaYouth has had on her studies: “IkamvaYouth gave me the support that I needed with my studies, and I recommended the programme to other learners. I am now planning to enroll in a tertiary institution to further my studies”.

• Luzuko Sidimba, IkamvaYouth District Manager, Western Cape

 

After-school Support Works!

IkamvaYouth’s KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape regions have once again achieved remarkable success in the matric results for the year 2023, demonstrating the effectiveness of after-school academic intervention. Through the power of the IkamvaYouth model, the KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape branches achieved an overall pass rate of 87.6%, with 82% of learners eligible for tertiary education. Over the years, these branches have helped up to 815 learners to matriculate, with 422 achieving bachelor passes enabling them to pursue dignified livelihoods. 

 

Our Chesterville, Joza and Umlazi branches continue to show their commitment to empowering learners and ensuring academic success through dedicated support and comprehensive programs. These branches have helped learners overcome challenges and in turn achieve outstanding results. Each branch’s success can be attributed to its holistic approach to supporting learners throughout the year. Our team goes above and beyond to provide support specific to learner needs. In KwaZulu Natal, in particular, our Chesterville branch achieved an impressive 95% pass rate. Even more remarkable is that all of these learners are eligible for tertiary education. The Umlazi branch, while achieving an 81% pass rate, has also made significant strides in supporting 53% of learners to become eligible for tertiary education.

 

This is what Mpendulo, from the Umlazi branch, had to say about his journey with IkamvaYouth: 

 

“IkamvaYouth has been of great help when it comes to my academic performance. I received a lot of educational tutoring that made me perform a lot better in school, the proof is in the paper. I found career guidance lessons from IkamvaYouth helpful, they are the ones that led me to the path I have taken in my career.”

 

Mpundulo obtained four distinctions and is planning to study Podiatry at The University of Johannesburg.

 

In the Eastern Cape, IkamvaYouth’s Joza branch has achieved an outstanding 87% pass rate. Moreover, an impressive 83% of learners from this branch are now eligible for tertiary education. These results are evidence of our programme’s mission to to create pathways for young people from under-resourced communities to pull themselves and each other into sustainable livelihoods.

 

These achievements not only celebrate the hard work and dedication of the learners but also highlight the invaluable impact of IkamvaYouth in transforming lives and shaping a brighter future. IkamvaYouth is eternally grateful to all who have made this possible, none of the results would have been obtained without the help of our dedicated volunteers and remarkable partners!

• Thandazo Jaftha, IkamvaYouth District Manager, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal