The Eastern Cape may have recorded a drop in its matric pass rate. This comes after Umalusi, the body responsible for quality assurance in the education system, announced at a media briefing in Pretoria last week that the class of 2015 had fared worse than those of 2014.
The Daily Dispatch has learnt from sources within the education department that the province’s pass rate has dropped to 56.8% from 65.4% in 2014.
Last year, 91810 full-time and 19102 part-time candidates wrote exams.
DA MPL Edmund van Vuuren said of those, about 19000 were “progressed” pupils – those sent from Grade 11 to 12 although they had not passed.
At time of writing yesterday, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga had not officially announced the provincial and national results. She was expected to do so last night.
It is understood a meeting was held at the ANC’s Calata House provincial headquarters in King William’s Town yesterday to discuss the outcome and leadership challenges in the department.
The Daily Dispatch was unable to reach education MEC Mandla Makupula and his acting HoD, Sizakele Netshilaphala, at time of writing.
Provincial government spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said it was a normal process to have such meetings.
“It’s not surprising that there will be meetings prior to the announcement. The results are a big event in the country so people cannot just sit back.”
Kupelo said the pronouncement of the results would be made officially by provincial authorities today.
ANC provincial spokesman Mlibo Qoboshiyane said he would comment once formal confirmation of results had been received by the MEC.
“The minister is to deliver the national results later today . Surely any drop signifies serious and surgical introspection and to deal decisively with factors.”
One source said: “It’s the last performing province. It recorded 56.8%.
“The children of the poor are at the receiving end of the political fights and tenders, and those of the middle class are not affected at all.”
Another official said only the Western Cape had done well.
“That’s what I understand and other provinces have done poor. I don’t expect the Eastern Cape to be different.”
Van Vuuren did not expect the province to achieve a 60% pass rate.
“Progressed learners accounted for about 20% of full-time candidates.
“ Ngonzo has … done well … He has invested resources and is one of the head of departments who have been responsive to stakeholders.”
Ngonzo was placed on suspension in June 2014 and then put on special leave by premier Phumulo Masualle in December last year after the Bhisho High Court set aside a disciplinary hearing instituted by education MEC Mandla Makupula against him.
Van Vuuren said a lack of teachers at schools, especially for critical subjects, was among challenges facing education.
He said some schools had no teachers for subjects that were offered as part of the curriculum.
Some schools in the province embarked on protests in the province, including parents from Mount Frere, who protested at the department’s heaquarters in Zwelitsha.
UDM MPL Thando Mpulu said the dismal matric pass rate was a serious problem.
“This cannot be cracked anytime soon. You cannot have a school offering accounting but there are no teachers but hope and trust that children are going to pass.
“Our education system needs to be overhauled because it has collapsed.”
Mpulu said a lack of well-trained teachers was also a challenge.
“Some the teachers do not fully understand what they were teaching pupils.” — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
EC braces for poor results
The Daily Dispatch has learnt from sources within the education department that the province’s pass rate has dropped to 56.8% from 65.4% in 2014.
Last year, 91810 full-time and 19102 part-time candidates wrote exams.
DA MPL Edmund van Vuuren said of those, about 19000 were “progressed” pupils – those sent from Grade 11 to 12 although they had not passed.
At time of writing yesterday, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga had not officially announced the provincial and national results. She was expected to do so last night.
It is understood a meeting was held at the ANC’s Calata House provincial headquarters in King William’s Town yesterday to discuss the outcome and leadership challenges in the department.
The Daily Dispatch was unable to reach education MEC Mandla Makupula and his acting HoD, Sizakele Netshilaphala, at time of writing.
Provincial government spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said it was a normal process to have such meetings.
“It’s not surprising that there will be meetings prior to the announcement. The results are a big event in the country so people cannot just sit back.”
Kupelo said the pronouncement of the results would be made officially by provincial authorities today.
ANC provincial spokesman Mlibo Qoboshiyane said he would comment once formal confirmation of results had been received by the MEC.
“The minister is to deliver the national results later today . Surely any drop signifies serious and surgical introspection and to deal decisively with factors.”
One source said: “It’s the last performing province. It recorded 56.8%.
“The children of the poor are at the receiving end of the political fights and tenders, and those of the middle class are not affected at all.”
Another official said only the Western Cape had done well.
“That’s what I understand and other provinces have done poor. I don’t expect the Eastern Cape to be different.”
Van Vuuren did not expect the province to achieve a 60% pass rate.
“Progressed learners accounted for about 20% of full-time candidates.
“ Ngonzo has … done well … He has invested resources and is one of the head of departments who have been responsive to stakeholders.”
Ngonzo was placed on suspension in June 2014 and then put on special leave by premier Phumulo Masualle in December last year after the Bhisho High Court set aside a disciplinary hearing instituted by education MEC Mandla Makupula against him.
Van Vuuren said a lack of teachers at schools, especially for critical subjects, was among challenges facing education.
He said some schools had no teachers for subjects that were offered as part of the curriculum.
Some schools in the province embarked on protests in the province, including parents from Mount Frere, who protested at the department’s heaquarters in Zwelitsha.
UDM MPL Thando Mpulu said the dismal matric pass rate was a serious problem.
“This cannot be cracked anytime soon. You cannot have a school offering accounting but there are no teachers but hope and trust that children are going to pass.
“Our education system needs to be overhauled because it has collapsed.”
Mpulu said a lack of well-trained teachers was also a challenge.
“Some the teachers do not fully understand what they were teaching pupils.” — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
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