81% of the graduating class does not have a parent who graduated from high school, and half of the learners have a parent who cannot read or write. The majority of our learners will be the first in their immediate families to graduate from high school.
South Africa (27 January 2023) – A High School in one of the poorest areas of Eastern Cape just achieved a 100% pass rate – the first time in the region’s history!
Bulungula College (BC) is a no-fee, independent high school located in the Xhora Mouth Administrative Area, Elliotdale, along the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape. One of the poorest areas in the country. In 2019, BC opened its doors as the first-ever high school in the area.
Before the opening of BC, the only option for learners who wanted to pursue a high school education was to leave their families, rent accommodation, and attend a high school far from the community. Not only was this an expensive form of education (that most in the community could not afford), but going away to a school in an unstructured environment proved difficult for learners, resulting in many dropping out.
Since 2005, an average of 6 people from the community have passed high school each year.
In 2021, BC graduated its first class, and they were proud to have assisted 28 Matrics (63% pass rate), the most to ever graduate in a single year from the community.
This year, BC has just made history again, passing 100% of its 2022 Matrics for the first time in the history of Elliotdale.
“81% of the graduating class does not have a parent who graduated from high school, and half of the learners have a parent who cannot read or write. The majority of our learners will be the first in their immediate families to graduate from high school.”
Bulungula College was founded on the idea of building a model for how to get all learners through high school— regardless of their starting point— in a region with the most under-resourced schools in the country. True to this vision, BC has never excluded any learner from attending our school based on their marks. Moreover, the school is ZERO-fee, taking the financial burden off of families to send their children to a quality school.
Two Matriculants, Philanathi Kalala and Yanga Bhakabha, were part of the inaugural cohort of the Bulungula College’s Job Skills and Entrepreneurship Programme (JSEP) in 2020. They both attended different high schools before but dropped out due to the difficulties of studying far from home. They had given up on finishing school altogether but were excited to join the JSEP to pursue a vocational path.
After a year with the JSEP, they were both inspired to re-enrol at Bulungula College in the academic stream. Now, they have both earned their Matric certificate, opening up many more doors to opportunity. The Bulungula College works hard towards its zero-dropout campaign, the JSEP is a cornerstone of these efforts.
For many of these learners and their families, earning a Matric certificate in their community was a dream they never thought possible. This pass rate is not only a reflection of the individual efforts of the learners but the consistent support, guidance and care of the Bulungula College teachers, staff and families.
Bulungula College is a shining example of what excellence can (and should) look like in a rural and under-resourced area. Access to quality education is one of the most powerful tools we have for breaking the cycle of poverty.
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