0% pass rate - explain, demands MEC!
2013-01-06 22:27
Polokwane - Limpopo Education MEC Dickson Masemola has demanded an explanation as to why a school got a 0% matric pass rate in 2012.
Alapha Secondary School in Bayswater village in Ga-Matlala, outside Polokwane, is the only school where all of the 20 pupils who wrote the 2012 Grade 12 exams matric failed the year.
“The principal and his colleagues will have to come and account as to what happened,” said Masemola.
Provincial spokesperson for education, Pat Kgomo said officials from the department, including the MEC will visit the school this week to find out the reasons behind the 0% pass rate.
“We are planning to meet the staff at that school to help them deal with the challenges that might have contributed to the 0% pass rate,” said Kgomo.
Limpopo's pass rate rose from 63.9% to 66.9%, ranking it second-lowest in the country, after the Eastern Cape, which achieved 62%.
Altogether 77 360 Limpopo pupils wrote the Grade 12 exams, of which 51 745 passed.
The number of university exemptions numbered 15 324.
The top performing district was Vhembe with a 76.8% matric pass rate, followed by Capricorn with 66% and Mopani with 63.2%. Sekhukhune came fourth with 63% and Waterberg came last with 60.1%.
Schools where more than 50 matrics wrote the exams and which achieved a 100% pass rate include Hoërskool Pietersburg, Hoërskool Warmbad, Waterberg High School and Pax High School.
A further 21 schools that had fewer than 50 matrics also achieved a 100% pass rate.
The top three schools that produced the most bachelor passes were Mbilwi Secondary with 325, Thengwe Secondary with 206 and Hoërskool Pietersburg with 179.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province has expressed its satisfaction with the matric results.
“An increment from 63.9% in 2011 to 66.9% in 2012 is a great feat indeed. Credit goes to all those teachers and principals who, despite having to work under trying circumstances, made this possible to achieve,” said DA spokesperson Langa Bodlani.
He said although more pupils got university exemptions this year than last year, it was still relatively low at 21%.
He noted the increase in the number of matrics who did well in mathematics and science and wished the class of 2013 well.
