South Africa’s official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has disputed the 2023 Matric results pass rate of 82.9 per cent, claiming that the real mark is only 55.3 per cent.
Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga on Thursday announced that the Matric class of 2023 achieved a pass rate of 82.9% – the highest in the history of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.
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According to the Minister, more than 890 000 full-time and part-time learners sat for the matric exams administered by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) in 2023, adding that 572 983 candidates passed.
The DA argues that 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,” it said.
The opposition party accused the ANC government of only focusing on quantity over quality.
“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.
“Minister Motshekga cannot be further removed from the actual issues that faces the children in our public school system,” the DA said.
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