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SA reverses decline in matric pass rate

6 January 2011

South Africans have a reason to be proud of the Class of 2010, who have recorded a pass rate of 67.8%.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced the results at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Thursday.

This was a major improvement of 7.2 percentage points from 2009's 60.6% national pass rate, she said.

"We'd like to congratulate the class of 2010, they did us proud! Their unrelenting determination is commendable," Motshekga said.

"The class of 2010 is truly distinctive!"

"We've worked hard to ensure the credibility of the exams," Motshekga added. "Umalusi convened standardisation of exams on 24 December to ensure that the quality of results is the same as in other years."

She said the department's determination to change the status quo of previous results came from the recognition that education was the driver of national change and played an important role in improving people's lives.

Pass rates for the provinces were encouraging in 2010, with all registering an improvement from the previous year:

• Gauteng: 78.6% (71.8% in 2009)
• Western Cape: 76.8% (75.7% in 2009)
• North West: 75.7% (67.5% in 2009)
• Northern Cape: 72.3% (61% in 2009)
• KwaZulu-Natal: 70.7% (61.1% in 2009)
• Free State: 70.7% (69.4% in 2009)
• Eastern Cape: 58.3% (51% in 2009)
• Limpopo: 57.9% (48.9% in 2009)
• Mpumalanga: 56.8% (47.9% in 2009)

Calls for improvement

Motshekga wished the Class of 2011 well, and called on them to further improve on the matric pass rate.

"The Class of 2010 has shown us there is no mountain we can't climb when we are up for the challenge," she said, adding that pupils, parents, teachers and all citizens should pull together to support all pupils, from Grade 1 up to Grade 12.

She added that there would be an intensified focus on improving performance in maths and science, school infrastructure and the basic functionality of all schools.

"With resources allocated by the Cabinet at the end of 2010, we will be able to start dealing with inappropriate school structures," Motshekga said. "We will build and renovate laboratories, libraries, specialist rooms and administration blocks where there are none.

"Between 2011 and 2014, we are committed to addressing all our sanitation and water supply challenges."

Motshekga added that textbooks and other learning and teaching materials had also been identified as a priority.

Source: BuaNews