Siyanda Mbonambi, an Information Technology graduate at MUT, who also taught students Maths and Science at the University as part of the upgrading programme called PRISM, has catapulted his Ndukwenhle High School in Umlazi Township to heights of which it has never dream. Under Mbonambi’s guidance, Ndukwenhle obtained a 100% pass in the 2023 grade 12 examination results and became one of the best performing schools in the 2023 grade 12 academic year. Ndukwenhle topped all the high schools in the Phumelela Circuit and was the only school to achieve 100% in Umlazi township. “These results were not easy to achieve, I could not have done this on my own. Every school principal needs a dedicated team of educators who understand the school’s vision and support the principal’s plan for the year.” Mbonambi said. He said it was a collective effort.
The improvement of the results was the outcome of a plan that Mbonambi had for the school when he was appointed as the school’s Principal in 2021. That year the grade 12 results were 87.9%. Mbonambi planned to “bring back discipline at the school. I wanted all the stakeholders to be disciplined. The teachers. The learners. And the parents. I wanted us to improve the number of bachelor passes so the number of learners that do not enrol for tertiary education would be reduced”, Mbonambi said. He also highlighted the role played by the teachers at the school. He described the teachers’ role as “huge because our school admits any learner; learners do not have to write a selection test. For this reason, our teachers must work hard, working long hours – 6.30am to 6pm. We also have weekend and afternoon classes”. Mbonambi also said that they have a special remedial programme for underperforming learners. Mbonambi also has a teaching degree.