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Two of the top achievers, Awelani Davhula (middle) and Ngwenyama Reddick (left), with Mr Benedict Ratshili rejoice at the school immediately after the results were announced.
News - Date: 22 January 2016
John Mutheiwana Secondary School might sound like an ordinary school in deep rural Vuwani, but when the history books of top performing schools in Limpopo are opened, the name will feature prominently.
Founded many years ago, the school has produced consistent quality results in Grade 12, against all the odds. Situated at Tshimbupfe and in the Vhuronga 1 Circuit, the school has missed the 100% pass mark in Grade 12 by a whisker over the years, sometimes with just one or two pupils failing.
Last year, the school succeeded in achieving a 100% pass. Out of the 70 pupils who wrote, all of them passed, with 32 achieving university exemption.
School HOD Mr Benedict Ratshili said hard work and dedication coupled with unity between staff members and parents was their recipe of success. “We are working under very trying conditions. We do not have resources at this school and there is no furniture. Pupils have to share the little they have. There are no classes and we depend on mobile classrooms, which are very hot in summer. It makes concentration very difficult, but we are excelling against all the odds,” he said.
Ratshili said the school had the potential to achieve more if given the support they dearly needed. “We are calling on businesses and organizations that have an interest in education to come on board, so we can improve conditions at the school."
Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019. He currently writes on a freelance basis, covering human rights issues, court news and entertainment.
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