Four out of 10 fail matric

2010-01-07 15:56

Johannesburg - Political parties and student movements on Thursday said they were concerned about the drop in the matric pass rate to 60.7% from 62.5%.

The African Christian Democratic Party said it was "seriously unacceptable" that not far off half the matrics who wrote exams failed. The DA said it was dismayed by the results.

"The [DA] notes with dismay the 1.8% decline in nationwide matriculant pass rates, as announced by the basic education ministry earlier today," education spokesperson Juanita Kloppers Lourens said.

The party's Gauteng region also blamed the SA Democratic Teachers Union for the poor results, blaming them for disruptions in education.

"Some educators did not complete the whole curriculum, and absences from their classrooms exacerbated the problem," said education spokesperson in the province Khume Ramulifho.

'Education in crisis'

Sadtu said the overall results reflected that pupils from the working-class and poor communities still experienced problems.

The education system is in a state of crisis, the Inkatha Freedom Party said.

"Whilst the IFP would like to extend its congratulations to those matric students who have passed their Senior Certificate examinations, today's [Thursday's] results must be a wake-up call to government that urgent steps must be taken to address the critical shortcoming within our education system," said IFP education spokesperson Alfred Mpontshane.

The SA Students' Congress was considering complaining to the SA Human Rights Commission or the Public Protector over the late release of the results.

In the past they had been released in December and there are concerns over whether everyone will find a place at university or college.

The decline in the matric pass rate was "extremely disappointing", the Independent Democrats said.

"Given the billions of rand we have invested in education since freedom, the fact that we spend more on education than almost any other developing nation in the world, and that a decent education is fundamental for the development of our nation, the matric results for 2009 are pathetic," education spokesperson Haniff Hoosen said.

Better quality exams

However, trade union Solidarity felt the decline indicated standards of papers were improving, which better prepared pupils for university. An equally upbeat Young Communist League said the results showed the youth are committed to pursue a better life.

The Federation of Unions of SA urged the basic education department to make adjustments to the school curriculum to help prepare matrics for their final exams in future.

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday commended the province's education department on implementing strategies which led to an improved pass rate.

The province increased its pass rate by 3.5% from 57.6% in 2008 to 61.1% in 2009.

The Congress of the People's Youth League viewed the decline "in a serious light" believing a lot could have been done to avoid it.

Overall matric exam results were pleasing, but poor results in "gateway" subjects like maths and English must be flagged for future attention, the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of SA said.

Warning over illegal institutions  

Naptosa added that lower performance in rural areas also remained an area of concern, with inadequately resourced schools and poor support for district officials.

The National Youth Development Agency congratulated those who passed, but warned they should not fall prey to illegal academic institutions.

"The NYDA would like to caution all matriculants about the... mushrooming of illegal institutions parading as legitimate options for academic advancement, taking advantage of the seemingly desperate matriculants," agency head Andile Lungisa said in a congratulatory statement.

There was also concern over a leaked paper scandal in Mpumalanga which almost saw that province's results delayed.

- SAPA