Umthawelanga Senior Secondary School

Umthawelanga Senior Secondary School is a public high school in Sonwabile, Maclear, Eastern Cape, in the Joe Gqabi education district. The Department of Basic Education classifies it as a secondary school. In 2025 it had 1 353 learners and 36 educators, about 37.6 learners per educator. That makes it larger than the average for public high schools in Eastern Cape (703 learners). It is a quintile 3 school, meaning it serves the middle 20% of communities according to the national poverty ranking. It is a no-fee school, so parents do not pay school fees. As a Section 21 school, its governing body manages part of its own budget. In the 2025 matric exams, 95.2% of its 167 candidates passed (Eastern Cape average: 84.2%).

Matric (NSC) results

95.2% of the school's 167 matric candidates passed in 2025, above the Eastern Cape average of 84.2%.

Year	Wrote	Passed	Pass rate	Eastern Cape
2023	145	137	94.5%	81.5%
2024	122	111	91.0%	85.1%
2025	167	159	95.2%	84.2%

Source: Department of Basic Education, 2025 NSC School Performance Report. Pass rate = candidates who achieved the NSC ÷ candidates who wrote. It doesn't show bachelor passes, distinctions or learners who left before Grade 12.

School facts

School type	Public high school
Phase (DBE)	Secondary School
Sector	Public
Quintile	3 of 5 (what is this?)
School fees	No-fee school
Section 21	Yes
Learners (2025)	1 353
Educators (2025)	36
Learners per educator	37.6 (province average 32.2)
Urban or rural	Urban
EMIS number	200401361
Exam centre number	4271050

Address and location

Street address	Umthawelanga Ss,sonwabile,maclear,5480
Postal address	P.O. Box 386, Maclear, 5480
Suburb / area	Sonwabile
Town	Maclear
Province	Eastern Cape
Education district	Joe Gqabi
Municipality	Elundini Local Municipality
Former department	Department of Education & Training(DET)

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Admissions

Applications for Grade R, Grade 1 and Grade 8 at public schools in Eastern Cape open the year before your child starts school. Contact the school for its application form and dates. Read our guide on applying for Grade 1 and Grade 8.