Matric exams 'fair, credible'

2007-12-28 14:20

Johannesburg - Despite a pass rate decline, the 2007 matric examinations were conducted in a fair and credible manner, Umalusi - the Council for Quality Assessment in General and Further Education and Training - has found, Education Minister Naledi Pandor said on Friday.

"Umalusi is satisfied that the 2007 examinations were conducted in a manner that renders them fair, valid and reliable," Pandor said in a statement.

The examiners, moderators and advisors must be commended on a diligent examination process that was of a high quality, according to the Umalusi report.

"Umalusi wishes to acknowledge that there were a few reported irregularities but these were addressed appropriately, and therefore Umalusi endorses the fact that the credibility of the 2007 examinations is above reproach," Pandor said.

While Umalusi was concerned about the 2007 decline in the pass rate, the organisation viewed the slump as an opportunity to build a solid foundation for better results in the future.

"As you are all aware, the national pass percentage for 2007 is 65.2% - this is 1.4% below the pass rate of 2006," she said.

"It is another decline in the pass rate; a fact that must cause us all to worry and spur us on to exert even greater effort in 2008 to ensure that many more young people achieve quality passes," Pandor said.

- SAPA