Motherhood is no easy feat – especially when entering the final year of high school.
But one Linkside High School pupil managed to pull off being the mother of a young baby and passing her matric year – all in one go.
Sibahle Boyce, 19, of Fairview, was in awe on Friday when she collected her results and realised she had passed the grade with a higher certificate.
“I am very excited because I passed. It is not what I expected. I am very happy,” she said.
Accompanied by a group of excited friends and her young daughter, Siluthando – now 14 months – Boyce said she was forever grateful for the support she received from her family and friends.
“It was a difficult year, with a lot of stress and worry but I managed to pull it off.”
Fellow Linkside matric and classmate Lisanda Tlhaleroe, 19, of North End, said she was extremely happy about passing grade 12 with a bachelor pass.
“I was expecting a D average but got a B. I am ecstatic.”
Linkside principle Henry Graham said although he was happy for the matrics who passed he was disappointed to note a 10% drop in the pass rate for 2018. The school obtained a 84% pass rate.
Graham said 55% of those who passed had obtained bachelor passes, with the first group of pupils studying history for the first time at the school – and all passing the subject.
Andrew Rabie High in Perridgevale obtained a 95% pass rate, up from 86% last year.
Deputy head of Andrew Rabie Ronel Bence said the school was happy about the number of pupils who passed and wished them luck.
Matriculant Denian Muller, 20, of North End, said he was relieved about passing but was disappointed that he did not achieve higher marks.
“I am very relieved that I passed and surprised with some of my marks, but a bit disappointed in others,” Muller said.
Westering High School top achiever Abigail van der Mesh, 18, of Sydenham, who achieved six distinctions, said she was happy with her marks after suffering a personal loss at the end of her grade 11 year.
Van der Mesh lost her stepfather in September 2017.
“I am very happy with my overall marks but a bit disappointed with my maths,” Van der Mesh said.
Westering headmaster Stuart Hayward said he was a bit disappointed to note a drop in the pass rate, which went from 97.2% last year to 95% this year. In the two previous years the school had achieved 100%.
“We need to revisit and regroup and be creative about the future,” Hayward said.
Alexander High School pupil Phelisa Quntana, 17, of Bluewater Bay, said she was happy and surprised with her results.
“My results are much better than I expected. Last year was not easy, very challenging but I managed to get through it,” Quntana said.
Fellow classmate, Lubabalo Maziko, 18, of Kwazakhele said she was anxious about receiving her results but was happy with them.
“I am very grateful that I have made it this far,” Maziko said.
Lawson Brown High School deputy principal Willie Knipe Joubert said he was pleased about an improvement in the pass rate, which rose from 87% to 88.9%.
“Any improvement is good and we have done better than last year,” Joubert said.
Lawson Brown pupil Ruaan Brooks, 18, of Windvogel, said he felt overwhelmed after receiving his results.
“I don’t know what to feel – it is all over and done now.”
Brooks fell sick toward the end of last year and spent some time in hospital during the exams.
Classmate Olwethu Koza, 19, of Motherwell, said he had not performed as well as he expected but was happy with a bachelor’s pass.
“It is not just about passing, but passing well so that I can study further,” Koza said.