DA Education Spokesperson in the Free State Legislature Mariette Pittaway
By Thys Khiba – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has refuted the 2023 matric results, saying they are inaccurate and the “real” matric pass rate is only 50%.
This comes after the Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced the Free State province as the top achieving province with an 89.3% overall pass rate in Gauteng on Thursday, 18 January 2024.
Free State is currently recognised as the best-performing province in the country with a matric pass rate of 89%, an increase of 0.5% from 2022.
This has been recognised as the best since the introduction of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations in 2008.
This results have been dedicated to the memory of and recognised as an honour to the late Dr Tate Pule Makgoe who is a former MEC for Education in the Free State.
The Free State remembered the vision and tireless efforts that Makgoe displayed in advancing education in the province.
DA Education Spokesperson in the Free State Legislature Mariette Pittaway said the DA is concerned about the number of learners left behind since embarking on their schooling career.
She said the 89.03% pass rate is not the real one and the Free State has the highest drop-out rate nationally as opposed to the DA-governed Western Cape which has the lowest drop-out rate. Pittaway used the latest statistics released by the Department of Education, which suggests 37.2% (23 671 learners) failed grade 10 in 2023, and 25.9% (17 386 learners) failed grade 8 in the same year in the Free State to support her argument.
“In 2021, 61 316 learners enrolled in grade 10 in the Free State, of which only 34 451 wrote the matric exam in 2023. Thus, taking into account the learners that fell out of the schooling system between 2021 and 2023, the real pass rate of the Free State is a mere 50%. The Western Cape achieved the top Mathematics pass rate at 75.4%, and the top Physical Sciences pass rate at 82.2% nationally. These are subjects which allow students to gain critical skills, and contribute positively towards the economy,” said Pittaway.
She alleged the department of basic education has not established a system of tracking pupils who leave the public schooling system.
“Many schools in the Free State lack basic infrastructure, such as adequate classrooms and ablution facilities. Schools are overcrowded and many has failing infrastructure. This has resulted in a lack of safety and security which makes it difficult for students to learn and succeed academically and contributes to the high rate of school dropouts.
“Poverty, hunger, and a lack of access to necessities like food, clean water, or in some instances any water, and electricity can make it difficult for students to focus on their studies,” Pittaway said.
She made a promise that when the DA is in government, it will implement its Education Policy that will improve opportunities for all by ensuring that they have access to quality education that allows them to increase their potential to utilize existing opportunities and create new opportunities.
The Free State matric class of 2023 has achieved an overall pass rate of 82.9%, a 2.8 percentage points increase compared to their 2022 counterparts.
Premier Mxolosi Dukwana has extended heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2023 for their performance in the NSC examination.
“We express our deepest gratitude to the teachers, School Governing Bodies, and parents for their unwavering support and guidance. Your dedication has played a pivotal role in nurturing these young minds and preparing them for success.
“This achievement is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the entire education ecosystem in the Free State. It also gives me great joy to learn that all five districts of the province have achieved a pass rate above 88%,” Dukwana said.
Dukwana commended each pupil for their achievements and perseverance throughout their academic journey.
“We also commend the incumbent MEC for Education, Mr. Makalo Mohale, for his stellar leadership and commitment to maintaining high standards in education. Under his guidance, the Free State education system has reached new heights, and this outstanding matriculation result is a reflection of his dedication to the learners and the province,” said Dukwana.
Dukwana said his province remains committed to investing in education, ensuring that the learners have access to quality education and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
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