Pietersburg circuit manager Biddy Ratale is on a mission to maintain quality results for all schools in the circuit. POLOKWANE – Biddy Ratale, the manager of the Pietersburg Circuit in the Department of Education is on a mission to maintain quality results for all the schools in the circuit. Ratale manages 56 registered schools including independent schools, public special schools, primary schools and secondary schools in the circuit. Last year, two schools from the circuit, namely Myngenoegen English Private School and Northern Muslim School produced a 100% matric pass rate. She says since joining the circuit in 2015, consistent good results have been a priority. “Our motto in the Pietersburg Circuit is, ‘The Hub of Educational Excellence’ and we want to keep it that way. For the past three years, we have been recognised as the number one circuit in terms of producing quality bachelor passes. “In 2020, we produced 1 260 quality bachelor passes and obtained 88.8% with position one in the province. In 2021 again as a circuit we produced 1 285 quality bachelor passes with an overall performance of 86.0%, also in the first position. Last year saw an increase in bachelor passes to 1 389, still in the first position.” She says they pride themselves on the quality of work they produce. “Our performance is due to hard work, dedication, staying focused and doing everything to the best of our ability. We also work as a team and incorporate the Circuit Quality Learning and Teaching Committee team, to support all our circuit programmes including motivation, and crime prevention. This team comprises men and women from various sectors including churches, the police, Health and Social Development Departments, Correctional Services, teacher unions and School Governing Bodies. This collective, together with our hardworking principals, are the reason behind the success of the circuit.” She added that they have focused, hardworking and dedicated teachers and principals, who put the learners first in everything they do. “My wish for all the schools in the circuit, is that we should not have any school performing below 90% and to have no underperformers in terms of matric results. In 2022, we had two schools that underperformed in the matric results. We are collectively hard to get them out of this unfortunate category.” Despite a shortage of schools in the city, the circuit maintains good results, she said. “The Pietersburg Circuit serves a diverse community for which we don’t have enough schools. We see this during the annual admission period. We wish for schools to be built in order to address the influx of people in the city. “Our schools also need parental support, as our teachers are under tremendous pressure with learners who get involved in social ills, such as drugs abuse. We do have developmental programmes to empower our representative councils of learners, school management teams, governing bodies and teachers in the circuit. The main challenge we are facing in achieving our goals is funding.” She says they appeal to the business sector to invest in the best performing circuit in the province, as an investment in education is an investment in the future.