Our Matric class of 2023

Our Matric Class of 2023, a Class of 30 students assembled from 17 different feeder schools within the Umgungundlovu District of KwaZulu-Natal, have achieved incredibly good results!  With all of the hype of KZN achieving the second highest pass-rate in the Republic of South Africa, one needs to view PROTEC Pmb’s achievement very carefully – especially with regard to the contentious 30% pass-mark which is condoned as acceptable by our Ministry of Basic Education (Schools Education).

The PROTEC Pmb Class, achieved a 100% Pass-rate and all students attained Bachelor Admission Passes – these allow the students to progress to Bachelors Degrees at any University throughout South Africa, and a good many overseas Universities as well.  Our Grade 12s also scored 66 Subject Distinctions!!  We are really thrilled for these 30 students and their parents 😊

It has been pointed out that one of the most challenging factors affecting this Class whilst they were in Grade 10 in 2021,  was that they were largely ignored with regards to their ongoing education, during that ghastly second Covid-19 Pandemic Year. The Grade 10 Year lays the FOUNDATION for the Further Education and Training Phase of High or Secondary School, and these students received little formal teaching during 2021 from their Schools:  students had to collect a limited number of printed instructions of what to study from textbooks, and if you did NOT have a textbook (which was the case for many students as textbooks are often shared), your education ground to a halt.  Had it not been for PROTEC Pmb providing this Class with online WhatsApp lessons (and sponsored smart-phones) in English Literature, Mathematics, Physical AND Life Sciences – sadly this Class did not all avail themselves of this opportunity, and the outcome can be seen in the reduced number of Distinctions.

However, we can now happily celebrate the following:

66 Subject Distinctions in 2023 breakdown
(30 students – an average of 2,2 distinctions per student)

Some of our star students from 2023

As well as a good number of students with 3, 2 and 1 distinctions

Of HUGE significance this year, is the fact that our results have remained at a 100% Pass-rate, as well as an amazing 100% University Exemption or Bachelors Admission Pass-rate! This is a phenomenal achievement, and every Student and Tutor is congratulated on their outstanding results.  All PROTEC Pmb students must study both Core Mathematics AND Physical Science, and this is fast becoming more and more difficult!

A recent News24 item reflected upon this fact:     “ The Grade 10 cohort of 2021 consisted of 1 081 618 children; only 53% of these children passed Grade 12 in 2023.”   This means that 47% of those children have dropped out of School!

In order to bolster the Grade 12 Pass-rates, not only has the pass-mark been lowered to 30%, but easier (more light-weight) subjects are being offered by schools which have little academic or vocational merit – Mathematical Literacy being one of these “new” subjects.   All Technological Careers demand excellence in Core Mathematics & Physical Science, and include Engineering (all fields), ICT, Medicine and paramedical careers, Forestry, Agricultural Engineering and Research, Biotechnology etc  Parents need to be aware of this fact.

The PROTEC Pmb Class of 2023 has received many conditional Offers from a variety of Universities ahead of these results being published; our students are currently making those incredibly difficult decisions  – these are life-defining decisions!  Tertiary Study Bursary offers will hopefully soon arrive as well 😊

PROTEC Pmb Academy is greatly indebted to its well qualified and highly experienced Tutors who drive our intensive academic programmes within Saturday and Vacation School, and our wonderful Donors – without whom we could NOT function:  they ensure the continued survival of PROTEC Pietermaritzburg Academy.