NATIONAL NEWS - The DA is disputing the Department of Basic Education’s pass rate of 82.9%, claiming the real matric pass rate is only 55.3%, an increase from last year’s 54.6%.
In a statement issued by DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education, MP Baxolile (Bax) Nodada, the party said the real matric pass rate is calculated by bringing into account the number of learners that dropped out and never made it to matric.
“While some learners pursue their matric through technical and vocational education and training (TVET) after grade 9, a large number drop out completely. To bring the TVET learners into account, the DA calculates the real matric pass rate from the grade 10 cohort that ought to have completed matric. 345 626 learners dropped out between grade 10 in 2021 and grade 12 in 2023,” Nodada said.
He blasted Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and her department saying the real pass rate is an excellent indicator of their lack of success. “This ANC government’s only focus seems to be quantity over quality, thinking that it is an improvement from previous years. This skewed focus on how many learners can be pushed through the system should be scrapped in favour of a focus on the quality of skills gained, so learners have a shot of being employable and bettering their circumstances.”
Nodada referred to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) that revealed that 7,8 million people were unemployed in the third quarter of 2023. “The unemployment rate according to the expanded definition was 41,2%. Furthermore, 3.3 million (32.7%) million young people aged 15-24 years were not in employment, education, or training (NEET). These are the young people that are meant to be working towards gaining the skills for successful economic participation by completing matric and then possibly moving to higher education institutions. Instead, their basic education has left them so hopeless and badly educated that they join the unemployment lines.”
He said for the past 30 years, the ANC government has promised to eradicate the injustices of the past highlighting ill-implemented curriculums, dangerous infrastructure like pit toilets and asbestos, and many teachers that cannot pass examinations for the subjects they teach.
“Learners have to face these challenges after walking kilometres to school and often on empty stomachs when one or the other Departmental failure disrupts the National School Nutrition Programme. Minister Motshekga’s 15 year tenure has been marked by excuses and shifting deadlines, bowing to pressure from unions, and the stripping of schools’ rights with the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill.”
He said 81% of grade 4 and 56% of grade 6 learners cannot read for meaning.
“Grade 4 and 8 learners struggle with basic maths and science, and almost 40% of grade 10 pupils and more than 25% of grade 8s in the Free State failed their exams last year.”
Nodada said due to various interventions the Western Cape has the lowest dropout rate in the country. “The #BackOnTrack programme to reverse learning losses for learners and training for teachers was very successful and will continue from February. The Rapid School Build programme continues to expand with 10 new schools and three replacement schools being built this year, despite the budget cut of R716,4 million. The Western Cape leads in passes for Mathematics and Physical Sciences. The Western Cape also achieved a high number of distinctions and Bachelor’s passes.”
He said nationally the Bachelor’s passes of 40.9% compared to the 88.59% of candidates who wrote the Independent Examination Board (IEB) National Senior Certificate examinations is a great concern.
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