ALI MPHAKI
ALMOST all the Senaoane Secondary School pupils who were controversially promoted to Grade 12 early last year have failed their matric exams.
Only four of the 53 pupils passed and a few have to write supplementary exams. Three of the pupils failed to sit for the exams.
The school was embroiled in a controversy early in 2011 when the Gauteng Department of Education wanted to demote the 53 Grade 11 pupils, who had been promoted before their results were ratified by the department.
The pupils were excited when they received their school reports at the end of 2010, which showed they had passed, but in February the department put a spanner in the works by declaring that they should be demoted.
A bitter battle ensued between the department and the parents, with the latter accusing the department of applying a “divide and rule” tactic.
Some of the pupils tried to commit suicide, and the department was forced to back down – but not after hauling four teachers, all heads of department, to a disciplinary hearing, charged with misconduct.
Teachers at the school yesterday told The Star that the controversy about the pupils early last year had harmed their studies.
“We know they could have done better, but with all those problems, they lost valuable time, which affected their preparations for the final exams,” said a teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity.
But despite so many pupils failing, what brings cheer to the school is that it was able to improve its matric pass rate from 36 percent to 39 percent, and the teaching staff are confident the Grade 12s will do even better this year.