Matric 2015 results reveal huge disparities of learner performance
05 January 2016
The release of the National Senior Certificate results is a time for honest reflection and introspection.
A candid and objective assessment must acknowledge that our education system is failing millions of poor children in several parts of the country. This is a national tragedy and we cannot shy away from it.
According to the results released this evening, the overall pass rate has declined from 75.8% in 2014 to 70.7% in 2015. Some provinces have shown a significant decline, most notably the Eastern Cape at 56.8% (down 8.6%), KwaZulu-Natal at 60.7% (down 9%), and Limpopo at 65.9% (down 7%).
The picture emerging is of a highly unequal education system. Two decades after the end of Apartheid, a child’s scholastic success is still very much determined by the province they live in and what school they go to.
For our education system to redress the legacy of Apartheid, we need to ensure that all learners receive a quality education. The results of the Western Cape are particularly promising in this regard:
The Western Cape achieved a pass rate of 84.7%, the highest in the country and an increase of 2.5% from 2014. It is the only province to have improved their pass rate from last year.
Bachelor pass rates increased from 38.8% in 2014 to 41.7%- the highest in the country.
Every learner who passed matric in the Western Cape passed with access to higher education.
In 2015, a record number of 12 397 candidates passed Mathematics compared to 11 265 in 2014. The pass rate was 74.9%.
In 2015, 12 026 candidates passed Physical Science compared to 11 091 in 2014. The pass rate was 73.3% (notably the pass rate was 52.9% when the DA first took over the Province in 2009).
If we are to improve the matric results across the board, we need to look at what the best performing provinces are doing right and what the worst performers are doing wrong. There is much work to be done but the Western Cape Government has shown that progress is possible.
Over the coming days and weeks, the DA will be studying the 2015 National Senior Certificate results to determine where and what type of reform is required.
The DA would like to congratulate all learners who performed well in the examinations. We encourage those who did not do as well as they hoped to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and to keep working for the opportunities they deserve.
Finally, we would like to thank the many thousands of hard-working teachers and principals who sacrifice so much for the future of our children. They are the true heroes of our country.
Statement issued by Gavin Davis MP, DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education, 5 December 2015
