How to get a top pass rate

A dismal matric pass rate of 36.6% two years ago was the last straw for the principal and teachers at Edward Phatudi Secondary School, in Atteridgeville, Pretoria.

Twelve months after implementing a "home-brewed" solution, the school became one of 2012's biggest education success stories with a pass rate of 90.4%.

The school's staff are confident that this year's class of 141 matrics will be able to improve on last year's impressive feat.

Principal Mike Masango said: "We had to take a closer look at what we were doing wrong and fix it immediately.

"And we needed to do it ourselves and not wait for an outsider," he said.

The school holds extra classes every day, including at weekends and during holidays .

Each department at the school reviews its progress at the end of each term to see which areas of teaching most need attention.

Pupils are grouped according to their academic achievements and are assigned to the teacher best suited to taking their marks to the next level.

"We also ensure [that we do not] abandon the top performers by focusing all our energy on those who are struggling academically," said Grade 10 and 12 maths teacher Kgomotso Letshwiti.

"That way, we maintain a high level of education."

Parents are encouraged to reduce the amount of housework they assign to their children to help them focus on their studies.

Jowel Masa, 19, said that less chores at home meant more study time and there had been a dramatic improvement in his marks.

Banele Nyoni, 18, said: "Chores and other responsibilities will always be there in life. What is important is that you study at every possible moment."

Nyoni helps her mother run a meat shop after attending extra classes in the afternoons.

At 6.30pm she returns to the home she shares with her mother and three siblings and helps with the cooking and cleaning.

"I am usually very tired after all the housework so I go to bed as soon as I can and wake up at about 1am [to study until 3am]," she said. "If you study hard, you can't fail."