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KZN's matrics up by 10 000
27/09/2006 20:36 - (SA)
Durban - KwaZulu-Natal will see nearly 10 000 more pupils sit down to write their senior certificate exam this year compared to 2005.
KZN education MEC Ina Cronjé released figures on Wednesday showing that 175 136 pupils would sit the exams when they kicked off on October 9.
In 2005, 166 855 pupils wrote the exams.
Cronje was not prepared to speculate on an improved pass rate for the province.
"I am not a sangoma. There is still a long road ahead," she said.
In 2005, KwaZulu-Natal had a 70.5% pass rate which was down nearly 4% on the previous year.
She said the incorporation of the Umzimkulu region into KwaZulu-Natal could have an impact on the province's overall pass rate.
Using cops and NIA
In 2005, the Eastern Cape, of which Umzimkulu was a part, had the lowest pass rate of all the provinces at 56%.
She said the department had clamped down on "gate keeping" - a process in which schools would hold back pupils in a bid to boost that school's overall pass rate.
She said the department also had tackled schools which enrolled their borderline pupils as private candidates for the exam - a move carried out to improve a school's pass rate.
Senior KZN education department officials had been working closely with the national intelligence agency and police to ensure the exams went smoothly and that no papers were leaked.
The NIA was playing an advisory role, informing the department where there were risks, said Cronjé.
- SAPA
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