Only 7.1% of matriculants passed their Multiple Examination Opportunities last year
25 October 2019
In a reply to a Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary question the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, revealed that out of 88 828 matric learners who opted to write the Multiple Examination Opportunities (MEO) last year, only 6 354 or 7.1% passed. An overwhelming number of 73 467 learners failed their MEO, while 9 007 did not pitch to write the exams.
The MEO system was intended to allow struggling matric students an opportunity to complete their examinations over two years. However, experts are of the opinion that the Department of Basic Education (BDE) failed to provide these learners with the necessary support. The numbers provided by the Minister clearly prove this point.
It seems the Department of Basic Education (DBE) implemented the programme but did not set proper checks and balances that would have ensured effective execution. This is a major indictment on the DBE as many of these learners simply fall off the radar without formally completing their academic careers.
The Department refuses to label the 9 007 learners who did not complete their exams as “dropouts”, as the DBE argues that these learners might return to write the remaining subjects in subsequent examinations. However, the DA is of the view that the Department’s refusal is based on its desire to create a false impression of an improved matric pass rate and not because it believes that these students will return.