TEACH South Africa (TEACH) attended the announcement of the 2019 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results at Vodacom on 06 January 2020. TEACH Ambassador Mr Jethro Leshaba and the principal from Nyanga Senior Secondary School, Mr Khulile Qamata, were proudly accompanied by Lomso Dumezweni and his father, Mr Sabelo Dumezweni.
Mr Leshaba is a Grade 12 Physical Science teacher and he joined TEACH South Africa in 2017. Mr Leshaba fell in love with the profession, dedicating his life to changing the lives of his students. As a result, Lomso Dumezweni obtained 100% in Physical Science, as well as second position in the Quintile 3 schools category. Dumezweni is one of the country’s thirty top achievers. This was not the first time that Mr Leshaba has taught a top achiever. Avukile Nkayi was a 2018 top achiever and is now studying medicine at the University of Cape Town. Leshaba’s Physical Science learners for 2019 have achieved an overall pass rate of 91%. Whilst this achievement was paramount for TEACH, another heart-warming one was having Itumeleng Mokgoale, an Ambassador in the Free State, win the National Teacher Award in the category of Excellence in Teaching Mathematics: Secondary School.
Leshaba is not the only TEACH Ambassador who has done well. At Nyanga Secondary School, he was paired with Yolanda Ikaneng (Bachelor of Science) who taught Mathematics and obtained a pass rate of 73%. TEACHAmbassador Mr Tshefu Awonke joined TEACH South Africa in 2016. In mid-July, Awonke replaced a TEACHAmbassador at Springfontein Secondary School in Xhariep District, Free State. Awonke was given the opportunity of teaching Grade 12 Physical Sciences and achieved a 100% pass rate for his learners, four years in a row. Ms Zamile Njikelani, placed at Olien Secondary School in the Free State, Xhariep District to teach Mathematics and Physical Science, obtained 80% and 89% pass rates respectively.
Mr Zamani Mjwara, who was placed in Gauteng Johannesburg Central District and teaching Physical Science at Prudens Secondary School, attained a pass rate of 100%. Ms Mbalenhle Ndlela, placed at Tsakane Extention 8 Secondary School in Ekurhuleni South District, Gauteng, achieved an 89% pass rate in Mathematics. Mr Fredy Selowa, who is based at Realeng Secondary School in the Waterberg District, Limpopo, has been achieving a pass rate of 100% in Physical Science since 2018. Mr Madia Elekanyane placed at Curtis Nkondo School of Excellence in Gauteng since 2017, attained 73% pass rate in Mathematics. Furthermore, Lerato Rabapane (Bachelor of Science), placed in the Northern Cape, Z F Mgcawu District initially, through the support of Bio Therm Limited, Obtained 100% in Physical Science. Moshe Maluleka (Bachelor of Science) placed in 2014 in the Free State, Xariep District at Beang Tse Molemo Secondary School also obtained 100% in Physical Science. Gontse Malefo (Bachelor of Science) placed in the Free State, Xariep District at Wongalethu Secondary School, attained 70% in Physical Science. Mokela Sokamisa (Bachelor of Science) and Hope Mabunda (Bachelor of Science) both placed in Gauteng, Tswane West District at Soshanguve Technical High School accomplished 96% in Physical Sciences and 74% in Mathematics respectively. Sphiwe Sibanyoni (Bachelor of Science) now a Deputy principal at Iketsetseng Comprehensive Secondary School in the Free State, Fezile Dabi District, reached 92% in Physical Sciences.
TEACH is a non-profit organisation that aims to improve mathematics, science and language performance for learners in primary and secondary schools. TEACH develops capacity by attracting university graduates in these subjects to teach and lead as TEACH Ambassadors for a two-year period in disadvantaged schools in South Africa. With 22 Ambassadors who taught grade 12 in 2019, 5 (23%) of them obtained a 100% pass rate in their subjects, whilst 16 (73%) attained an 89% pass rate and above. In the past 10 years of TEACH’s existence, 566 TEACH Ambassadors have been placed in schools. More than 68% of them attained Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and they become eligible to continue teaching in schools.
