2004 matric pass rate 70.7%
Mahlatsi Mgidi
21 January 2005
South Africa's matric pass rate for state schools declined slightly in 2004 - from 73.3% in 2003 to 70.7% - but maintained an upward trend established over the past 10 years.
The 2004 Grade 12 examination pass rates was revised from 71.4% to 70.7% after the Mpumalanga results were condensed into the final national figure. Mpumalanga's results were initially left out pending a probe into suspected irregularities in the province.
The majority of the province has since recorded a 61.8% pass rate, following a decision to announce the results for schools where irregularities were not found. Irregularities were discovered at 10 Mpumalanga exam centres, and results for these have been withheld pending a further probe.
Announcing the results in Pretoria on Thursday, Education Minister Naledi Pandor said that although the pass rate was a "worthy achievement", the department could not regard it as satisfactory. "The pass rate is lower than that of
2003, and we will strive hard to improve that of 2005", the minister said.
Of the 471 080 candidates wrote matric exams in 2004, 85 117 or 18.2% obtained university entrance passes.
"The matriculation exam is not simply about the minority who are awarded [university] endorsement", Pandor commented. "It is primarily a school-leaving certificate that opens the door to the world of work and further education."
The Western Cape led with an 85% pass rate, followed by the Northern Cape with 83.4%, Free State with 78.7% and Gauteng with 76.8%.
KwaZulu-Natal recorded a 74% pass rate, while Limpopo registered 70.6%, North West 64.9%, Mpumalanga 61.8% and the Eastern Cape 53.5%.
As of this year, the department has upped its minimum pass rate benchmark to 50%, and to ensure that no school performed below the figure, the minister said that learner participation, especially in maths and science, had to be improved.
"This year we must see further elaboration of
programmes to improve the critical fields of maths and science, and specific attention must be given to rural and township schools", Pandor said.
Source: BuaNews
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