The North West Province Class of 2019 Matric raised the bar by improving the province’s pass rate from 81,1% in 2018 to 86,8%.

4 districts individually achieved a 80% pass rate and above. The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, leveled such achievements to the National Development Plan’s (NDP’s) recognition of districts as a crucial interface of the Basic Education Sector in identifying best practice, sharing information, and providing support to schools. “The continued growth in the performance of districts, is closely monitored and evaluated by both the provincial and national Basic Education departments.” Said Motshekga

Amongst of the top ten (10) district level performances in the country is Bojanala Platinum at number 6, with a district pass rate of 89,6%.

The North West Province has been commended by the Minister for maintaining its 80% status. Be that as it may, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the North West Province the celebration of the pass rate as misplaced. This is as they are considering the number of pupils who enrolled in the system in Grade 10 but evidently dropped before matriculating.

According to the Gavin Edwards, DA North West Spokesperson on Education, 62 766 Grade 10 learners that enrolled in 2017, more than 20 000 dropped out before matriculating, leaving the North West with a real pass rate of only 37.1%.

“The drop-out rate, combined with the poor quality of education, is a recipe for disaster. Many of these youth will struggle to find employment and if they do, it will be for menial labour, locking them in a cycle of hardship and poverty.” Explained Edwards.

“The Department is not doing the learners any favours by setting low standards in basic education simply to pursue improved statistical outputs. The conditions that learners are expected to perform under remain extremely poor. Ongoing school safety challenges, poor infrastructure, shortage of schools and unrealistic teacher / learner ratios continue to plague this province.” Says Edwards

The party also took note of the hard work Put in by the Matriculants in the face of all the hardships and also thanked those teachers who walked the extra mile to ensure that learners were equipped for the next phase of their lives. Amongst those mentioned was the 9 out of the 12 Schools in Klerksdorp, who did well, despite being affected by service delivery protests during their final exams.

“We also single out the 2019 matric class of Thuto Lore Secondary School in Bloemhof, who had to be moved overnight to safety after the community threatened to disrupt their examinations.  Despite difficult circumstances, they still managed to achieve an 80% pass rate, showing true determination.” Mentioned Edwards.

-The VIP

-GCIS

-DANW Media

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