THE legendary principal of Spine Road High School in Mitchells Plain, Riyaad Najaar, has hailed the 100% pass rate of his 2017 matric class as the best present to receive for his retirement at the end of this month. As the 198 pupils cheered with delight at their achievement, Najaar said he was extremely proud that they were the only township school to achieve a 100% pass rate in the Western Cape. He attributed their success to the hard work of teachers and pupils and the support of parents.
With 80% bachelor passes and eight pupils attaining A aggregates, 168 pupils have been accepted to study at tertiary institutions. “We also did exceptionally well in pure maths with a 100% pass rate. And we are one of the few schools with the most number of pupils, 90, doing pure maths. It is an achievement we are extremely proud of and a great going away present for me after 25 years at the school,” said Najaar.
Top pupil with a 90% aggregate, La’eeqa Martin, 17, from Portlands said the extra push she received from those around her “overflowed not only on to my academics but on to myself. It definitely made the year special”. “I am planning on studying Bachelor of Science at UCT, majoring in genetics,” said a beaming La’eeqa. Classmate Zubair Roroick who hopes to studying information systems at UWC, said: “I’m speechless.”