Windhoek Gymnasium matric class 'shattered' by final results

A Windhoek Gymnasium learner claims the rapid implementation of the Cambridge curriculum in 2025 left the matric class exhausted and ill-prepared, resulting in significantly weaker final results than in previous years.

The learner explained that the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) was compressed into a single year, while Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level subjects were introduced over a shortened preparation period.

This, the learner told this publication, placed extreme academic and emotional pressure on the 2025 matric cohort.

Concerned parents have claimed on social media that their children’s final results were, in some cases, 15% to 20% lower than their mid-year exam scores.

They said this led to learners losing provisional university offers and placements after failing to meet minimum admission requirements.

A school social media post had initially stated that 112 learners, or 73% of the cohort, had achieved university exemption, but the post was later amended and the reference removed.

Parents said the post failed to reflect the full picture and had added to the confusion about the class’ overall performance.

Emotionally challenging

Learners described the academic year as “exhausting and emotionally challenging”.

Some claimed that not all subject content was fully covered and that certain teaching styles did not align with Cambridge standards.

Others alleged academic support was uneven, with sport and extramural activities sometimes prioritised over exam preparation.

Windhoek Gymnasium chief executive officer Colette Rieckert acknowledged that Cambridge International is a demanding, externally assessed curriculum and confirmed that the 2025 group wrote AS levels after a shorter preparation period than future classes.

She said other schools, including St Paul’s College and St George’s Diocesan School, had also transitioned to the Cambridge International curriculum without attracting the same level of public scrutiny and congratulated the class on its perseverance.

The school announced planned improvements, including structured English support, Cambridge-branded mock exams and a shift to a complete two-year AS preparation cycle by 2028/9.

However, several questions posed by this publication about performance expectations, declining marks, and communication with parents went unanswered.

Several parents said they are considering having their children repeat matric but remain uncertain about where and how the process would be managed, particularly within the Cambridge International system.

Both parents and school management indicated that they would make efforts to support affected learners by engaging deans from various universities regarding possible admissions and course placements.

Overall performance

However, a representative of the North-West University in South Africa warned that engaging with university deans in such cases is not useful.

According to the representative, the final decision on matriculation exemption and university admission does not rest with individual faculties or deans but with the Universities of South Africa (USAf) Matriculation Board, which is solely responsible for granting matric exemption.

Clarity was also sought on how Windhoek Gymnasium evaluates the overall performance of its first matric cohort under the Cambridge International curriculum and whether the final results aligned with expectations set at the start of the academic year.

Further questions focused on the reported decline of up to 20% between mid-year and final marks, whether this risk was communicated to parents and learners in advance, and whether the distinction between matric exemption and the higher point requirements for competitive programmes such as law was adequately explained.

The school was also asked why its initial Facebook post referencing a 73% university exemption rate was amended and later removed, how many learners ultimately obtained exemption, and what academic and emotional support was provided during the transition and in the lead-up to the final examinations.

As Windhoek Gymnasium’s first matric group to complete examinations under the Cambridge International curriculum, questions about the structural changes implemented to better support future cohorts were also sent. [email protected]