'In Grade 4 I failed math. This year I got 100%' – IEB top achiever

Bongani Bingwa speaks with some of the top IEB matriculants from the class of 2024.

Listen below.

On Monday, the IEB announced that the class of 2024 achieved a pass rate of 98.47% for their final examinations.

These students had to overcome significant challenges, as South Africa went into lockdown shortly after they started high school.

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In addition to these societal challenges, many students overcame personal struggles to achieve incredible results.

Top achiever Christopher Ferreira from Red Hill School achieved seven distinctions, despite a difficult school career.

Ferreira has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which he and his parents were unaware of until he was in grade seven.

Before his diagnosis and treatment, he would often become distracted and fall behind in class.

Thanks to hard work and commitment, he overcame the odds and achieved fantastic results.

“In grade four I failed mathematics. This year, I got 100% for maths.” 

- Christopher Ferreira, Matriculant - Red Hill School 

“I knew I was able to do it. I just needed to be in an atmosphere where I could shine.” 

- Christopher Ferreira, Matriculant - Red Hill School 

Awande Mchunu from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls is another student who overcame the odds to achieve seven distinctions.

She was raised by her grandmother and cousins in KwaZulu Natal and was encouraged to apply to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy by a teacher who saw her potential.

She says moving to a new province alone as a 12-year-old was difficult as she did not know anyone.

Mchunu says that her background was motivation to push forward and achieve her full potential.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interviews.