A total of 22 schools have received special awards for achievement in the 2001 Senior Certificate examinations.

The awards were presented at a function held to announce the results in Khayelitsha on 27 December, 2001.

The awards included Ministerial Awards in two categories - Improvement Awards and Merit Awards. The awards recognise excellence, despite challenges, or significant improvement.

Every school receiving the awards will receive R100 000 with which they can purchase support materials. These could include software, reference books, library books, overhead projectors, audio visual equipment, other teaching aids and computers.

Improvement Awards recognise improvement from last year's results, provided that they school improved its results every year over the last three years, and with a sub-minimum of 50% this year).

Five of the seven schools that received Improvement Awards this year participated in the Western Cape Education Department's Special Intervention Programme to improve Senior Certificate results.

The following schools received Improvement Awards for 2001:

Merit Awards were presented to the following schools, from or serving disadvantaged communities, who produced excellent results or achievements.

Meanwhile, the department also presented two Superintendent-General Awards to give special recognition to schools that have achieved good results. The award includes a prize of R50 000.

The SG Awards were presented to Simunye Secondary School, which Improved its results from 15,1% and 15,3% in 1999 and 2000 to 45,5% in 2001; and the Centre of Science and Technology (COSAT) in Khayelitsha, which achieved a 100% pass rate and two subject distinctions in 2001.