Matric pass rate – Yes, but so what?
With great pre-election fanfare, the Basic Education Minister announced the matric examination results, and yes, almost as expected (it was just a question of by how much) the pass rate had improved. Over 78% of the matriculants passed, but what percentage of the children who in 2002 set out towards writing their matric exams in …
With great pre-election fanfare, the Basic Education Minister announced the matric examination results, and yes, almost as expected (it was just a question of by how much) the pass rate had improved. Over 78% of the matriculants passed, but what percentage of the children who in 2002 set out towards writing their matric exams in 2013, what percentage of them passed? How many tens of thousands of them dropped out at some point along the way? A certain percentage may have passed but a huge percentage has been consigned to a life best described as un-ideal as a result of their failed education efforts. Instead of congratulating herself, the Minister should be delving into the reasons for this appalling drop-out percentage, and making every effort to prevent it.