The Philippi NGO has announced that out of the 30 learners in the organisation’s After School programme, 22 achieved a Bachelor’s pass and six obtained a Diploma pass, which will enable them to study further at an institution of higher learning.

The NGO applauded the learners for their outstanding achievements under difficult circumstance and made special mention of Masonwabe Nkombisa, who achieved five distinctions and Luvo Vellem who obtained four distinctions.

Beautiful Gate also thanked Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Teach Out (University of Cape Town) and the many tutors who helped the learners through their studies. They also thanked the principals and staff of the high schools who partnered with the organisation.

CEO Vaughan Stannard noted that according to Equal Education, the “true pass rate” was closer to 39%, taking into account all children who started this journey 12 years ago and should have sat down to write matric last October, but tragically, dropped out along the way.

“This makes us so grateful and proud of the amazing results of our matric learners in our After School programme and the wonderful work of our partner schools,” he said.

Some of the learners from the 2017 Beautiful Gate After School matric cohort, with Ayanda Farrar, Sibahle Mtati & Vaughan Stannard