Mrs Phaello Zonke, Lejweleputswa District Director of Education, emphasised the vital role of strategic partnerships in advancing learner achievement and sustaining academic excellence across the district.

The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) Welkom Campus proudly hosted the Lejweleputswa District Education Annual Well Done Function, a celebration of outstanding achievement in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations and a testament to the power of collaboration in education.

The event honoured exceptional learners, dedicated educators, and committed school leaders, while reinforcing a shared vision that excellence must be the norm, not the exception.

In his welcome address, Dr Clifford Nxomani, Welkom Campus Acting Interim, highlighted the importance of embedding excellence within communities and classrooms. “Today is not only about celebrating results, it is about building a culture where excellence is standard practice. When schools, families, and institutions work together, success becomes sustainable,” he said.

Mrs Phaello Zonke, Lejweleputswa District Director of Education, highlighted the district’s strategic partnership with CUT as a catalyst for improved academic outcomes. Through initiatives such as the Winter School Programme, more than 500 learners have received focused academic support in mathematics, physical sciences, and other gateway subjects. “Our partnership with CUT is more than support, it is empowerment,” she noted. “By opening access to resources, mentorship, and higher education exposure, we are equipping our learners not just to pass, but to thrive.”

Dr Vusumuzi Chuta, Fezile Dabi District Director, delivered a compelling keynote address highlighting the transformative power of leadership, discipline, and strong educational foundations in driving sustained academic excellence.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Vusumzi Chuta, District Director for Fezile Dabi, spoke passionately about education as a collective responsibility anchored in leadership, discipline, and consistency. He applauded the district for sustaining a matric pass rate above 85% for five consecutive years, with the Class of 2025 achieving 86.1%, steadily advancing toward the ambitious 95% target. “Excellence is not accidental. It is the result of commitment, strong leadership, and systems that work together. A solid foundation in the early grades produces confident matriculants ready to shape the future.”

He emphasised data-driven support, evidence-based interventions, and cohesive school leadership as pillars of sustainable success. “A river shapes the landscape not with one drop, but with persistent flow. Likewise, our learners succeed when every stakeholder (educators, institutions, families, and communities) moves in the same direction.”

The function concluded with the recognition of top-performing learners, teachers, and school leaders, a moment that celebrated not only academic results but the collective effort behind them.

Through its ongoing partnership with the district, CUT continues to play a transformative role in strengthening educational foundations, expanding opportunity, and ensuring that excellence is cultivated from classroom to campus.

Together, CUT and the Lejweleputswa District are not only celebrating achievement, but they are also building a community where success is shared, sustained, and continuously elevated.