Sanral applauds excellent matric maths, science achievement in township school

The South African National Roads Agency has congratulated the Matric class of 2014 from the Centre of Science and Technology (Cosat) for yet another outstanding show of results.

Cosat recorded a pass rate of 90%, with 58% of students who passed qualifying to do degree studies at a tertiary institution. This is compared to the just over 28% Bachelor pass rate for the rest of the country. Also, the learners achieved a total of 33 subject distinctions among them.

The Khayelitsha-based public school was established in order to bridge the gap in maths and science studies amongst pupils from disadvantaged communities who would otherwise have not been able to do well in maths and science.

Forty (40) learners at Cosat in 2014 were beneficiaries of the Sanral Scholarship Programme. As part of the scholarship, the agency is responsible for the learners' school fees, books and stationery as well as school and sport uniforms. Sanral also arranges beneficial extra-curricular activities for the learners.

The agency's CEO, Nazir Alli, said: "It is fulfilling to see our investment in basic education paying off. We are proud of the achievements of our Cosat learners and of all the learners on our scholarship programme who have done well. Sanral is committed to playing its role in addressing the skills shortage in our country. We look forward to seeing the learners excel in their chosen fields of tertiary studies. Among them are a number who will be studying engineering and will benefit from our bursary programme. We look forward to further supporting them through our internship programme and ultimately welcoming them to the engineering field."

From the first year Cosat opened, the school has consistently recorded excellent matric results. In 2011 it became the first school from a Western Cape township to make it to the 10 top list of schools in the province with a 100% pass rate and a 98.6% mathematics pass rate.

Top students who achieved distinctions for 2014 are:

* Lwando Gqobho (5 As and 2 Bs) * Athenkosi Cetyana (4 As and 3 Bs) * Bridget Mgidi (3 As and 3 Bs) * Sanelisiwe Mphathi (3 As and 2 Bs)

Alli commended the management and teaching staff at the school for their dedication and hard work. "The really remarkable thing about their job is that when they have taught skilfully and successfully, society is enhanced and the results are there for all to see."