This year’s Sasol Grade 12 Merit Awards marked a 30-year milestone of rewarding excellence in matric performance.
Held in Secunda on 24 January, the awards are a highlight of the matric results season and reward Grade 12 top achievers with bursaries cash incentives and certificates of recognition, with a focus on who obtained distinctions in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and other non-STEM subjects.
The learners recognised in the Sasol Grade 12 Merit Awards are from schools in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, Dipaleseng Local Municipality, Lekwa Municipality, Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality, Nkomazi Municipality and part of Mbombela Municipality.
A total of four bursaries were awarded to top achievers, with 73 top achievers receiving cash incentives. The funds go towards each recipient’s university registration fees.
A total of 313 learners in the Standerton Sub-District, eManzana and Ehlanzeni fenceline schools received a cash award per distinction for achieving a minimum of 3 distinctions in identified subject.
“As part of Sasol’s education strategy, we will continue to support STEM education from Grade R to 12 to prepare our learners for the future world of work and increase the pool of learners with subjects relevant for scarce skills,” said Khumbulani Cele, Senior Vice President Secunda Operations.
Top performers
The Overall Top Achiever Award for Gert Sibande and Ehlanzeni Region was scooped by Safiy’Yah Patel from Highveld Muslim School, in Kinross.
The Overall Best Performing School in Quintile 4-5 category in Mathematics went to Hoërskool Standerton, while Phumula Secondary School in Nkomazi received the Most Improved school award in Quintile 1-3 category.
The Overall Best Performing school in Sasol fenceline school was scooped by Komatipoort Academy and Khuzulwandle Secondary School from Elukwatini from Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality, in Mpumalanga.
The awards are just another way that Sasol demonstrates its commitment to actively driving education initiatives in South Africa.
Education support
Recognising and celebrating excellent performance in education is part of Sasol’s ongoing efforts that demonstrate the company’s firm belief that education is a fundamental input to transforming society.
Sasol’s inclusive education initiatives are driven by a need to see meaningful change in society and contribute to our youth enabling them to have a socio-economically sustainable future.
In Mpumalanga, Sasol also supports the Gert Sibande District’s programme which is a special intervention for learners who are underperforming in Mathematics and Science.
To honour the role played by educators in ensuring excellent results, six best-performing subject teachers and nine best-performing schools were also recognised.
The Sasol Grade 12 Merit Awards are a collaboration between Sasol, the Department of Basic Education, and this year’s supporting sponsors such as: MegChem, Osizweni Science Centre, Proconics, ROMPCO, eMbalenhle Girls,Sapphire, PDPS, Pinky Phosa Foundation, Digby Wells Environmental Consulting, Paradigm Shift Holdings, Thasasa, Sapphire, Phakama Advertising, Minhel and Hydra Arc.
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