Mbilwi Secondary School, one of the best performing schools in the country, which continues to achieve excellent matric results year after year, will continue being the pride of the country, says Principal Cedric Lidzhade.

He  was speaking after the release of the 2013 Grade 12 results which saw the school improving from 99,3% to 99,8%. “There is no magic here. Hard work, dedication and support from different stakeholders, including our traditional leader Thovhele Gole Mphaphuli, is what makes us tick and be the best.”

He added that they had decided to focus on the lower grades as they are the foundations for better results in Grade 12. “The lower grades should be taken care of. We have to instil love for subjects such as maths and science from an early age.”

Lidzhade said the school had become synonymous with quality results, for which a foundation had been laid by his predecessors. “I was a pupil here. I know this school and we are just walking in the footsteps of those who came before us,” he added.

The school has been producing a 100% pass for more than ten years. Last year, 478 wrote the matric exams and 378 got “bachelor passes” and they had only one who failed. During Limpopo Mirror’s visit on Wednesday, which was the first day of the schooling calendar, it was business unusual as educators were busy with their classes.

MEC Rudolph Phala, who visited the school, accompanied by Thulamela Mayor Grace Mahosi, Thovhele Gole Mphaphuli and other officials from the Department of Education, were only given a short time to address the pupils as they were rushing to classes.

Sibasa Circuit, under which the school falls, also recorded better results, achieving an 88,4% pass rate in the 2013 examinations.