Silikamva High School celebrates historic 100% matric pass rate for 2025

A STRONG academic culture, the use of data to improve results and teacher commitment are the ingredients behind Silikamva High School’s remarkable 100% matric pass rate in Hout Bay.

The Quintile 3 no-fee school founded in 2013 had struggled in the past, with a matric pass rate of just 40.4% in 2019.

The class of 2025 turned things around with 76% of learners achieving bachelor’s passes, while eight subjects, including Business Studies, English First Additional Language, Physical Sciences and isiXhosa Home Language, recorded a 100% pass rate. The school also recorded 75 distinctions from 154 candidates.

Its achievements were underscored by Education MEC David Maynier’s visit on Tuesday along with parents, teachers and NGOs.

Maynier praised the collective effort behind the achievement, saying the collaboration between the school leadership, staff, learners, operating partners, parents, and the broader community had been a key tool in the school’s success.

“As I look around today, I can see that the future is bright. I want to recognise the outstanding performance of the province and the district,” he said.

The department has credited its success to the school management team’s decision to invest in improving the school’s culture, with the help of their collaboration school operating partner, Common Good.

School principal Siphathisiwe Nkahla-Nkohla said:  “It is not easy to be a teacher in a township school or an informal settlement school because there are so many factors that affect our learners, but we still have to deal with these challenges.

“With the support of our partner, the hard work of our teachers and the commitment of our learners, we have reached this point.”

Matriculant Tinotenda Majeke from Khayelitsha reflected on the challenges of her final school year, including long daily commutes to Hout Bay.

“Thinking back to the times when I had to travel to school every morning, getting stuck in long traffic, surviving on just two hours of sleep because of long study nights and still having to attend classes, it really was not easy,” she said.

Majeke later moved to Hout Bay with the support of James House, which provides support including accommodation and resources for matric learners to reduce travel time and allow them to study safely.

“I feel very emotional because it was not easy. Matric was really challenging, and I am just so happy that we are here,” she said.

Another learner, Oneliseka Dubula said: “The sleepless nights, having to walk more than 20 minutes to school because I live far away, and trying not to fall asleep while writing the paper were some of the challenges I experienced.

“I managed to cope, but I still have mixed feelings about what to expect from my results.”

Addressing the learners, Maynier encouraged them to recognise the value of their effort.

“By putting in the extra hours for your schoolwork, you have made a direct investment in your own future,” he said.

“Most importantly, you have shown our province and our country that it does not matter where you come from or how many challenges you face, you can succeed, and we are very proud of you.”

Cape Times