The Boet Troskie Hall reverberated with dance, song and ululation as the Free State department of education celebrated the success of the 2025 matriculants in the province.
The Free State achieved an 88.33% behind the overall top province, KwaZulu-Natal.
The MEC for education in the province, Dr. Mantlhake Julia Maboya praised the matriculants who, she pointed out, were in grade 8 when COVID 19 struck in 2020. “Let us applaud this cohort of brave souls who avoided and beat the deseas,” she said. She encouraged parents, education and political officials who attended the ceremony at the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein to help the province reclaim it’s topranking even though challenges persist.
“Matriculants are still besieged by challenges,” she went on. Two of these challenges, she said, are the erratic electricity offering by municipalities and the scarcity of water. Maboya urged local government to come to the party to ensure that schools are pampered and well- looked after. “Another area of concern is of parents who do not take enough interest in the education of their children. Parents in the townships do not attend parental meetings and that is a huge drawback,” Maboya roared. “Councillors should partner with parents in order to ensure parents guide their children positively from as early as the foundation phase.”
However, she was full of praise for the 2025 matriculants although she was disappointed that the Free State was knocked off it’s lofty perch at the top of the pass mark standings.
The envisaged percentage pass rate target was 95%, the premier of the Free State, MaqueenLetsoha-Mathae, revealed. “But somehow we lost ground as there were challenges in our way.”
But the education department will do a thorough review of what happened and the province will reclaim it’s glory, the premier promised.“We are still at the top. No one has beaten our 91% pass rate yet achieved a while ago,” she remarked.
All the top matrulants and schools were presented with trophies of recognition as reward for a job well-done.
And, in the end, Motheo district office won the top accolade as the best performing office in the province.
Pic: Courtesy of the Central University of Technology
