School drop-out rate a worry for Gauteng
2011-09-27 22:30
Johannesburg - Around 7 000 Grade 1 pupils in Gauteng do not complete their first year at school, the Democratic Alliance said on Tuesday.
This was almost four percent of the total number of grade one pupils, said DA spokesperson Khume Ramulifho.
He said this was revealed in the Gauteng education department's annual report, which was tabled in the Gauteng provincial legislature last week.
On average, the Gauteng primary school dropout rate increased by three percent in the 2009/10 school year, with the Grade 1 dropout rate at 3.8% and Grade Seven at 2.7%.
"There is no explanation as to what happens to these children after they drop out of school at such a young age," he said.
"These figures paint a very worrying picture of the Gauteng education system."
Gauteng education spokesperson Charles Phahlane said the 4% decline was due to families taking their children to other provinces to complete their primary education.
By contrast, high school pupils from other provinces were often moved to Gauteng to study, he said.
- SAPA
