ANC GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO EXCEL IN EDUCATION
7 January 2014
The sustained improvement in the matric pass rate in South Africa bears testimony to the resounding success of the African National Congress' programme of ensuring that the doors of learning are open to all.
Since the dawn of our democracy, the ANC-led government has significantly improved the quality of education and this is evidenced by the number and quality of matriculants whom our schools produce. Building on the impressive achievements of the ANC in transforming the unequal education system which the ruling party inherited in 1994, Comrade Jacob Zuma, acting both as President of the country and of the ANC, hasensured that the ANC's goal of making education an apex prioritywould become a reality.
The past few years have been characterised by major interventions aimed at strengthening and raising performance at all levels of our education system.These interventionsare now reaping handsome dividends.The impressive 77.4 percent matric pass rate KwaZulu-Natal attainedin 2013 has not been a miracle but a direct result of government action and far-sighted political leadership.
We are pleased that all our districts have performed exceptionally well, scoring not less than 70 percent each. The 5 percent increase in the performance of learners in mathematics even in schools situated in rural parts of the province is also commendable and clearly indicates that the doors of learning have indeed been opened for all.
The ANC congratulates the education department led by Comrade Peggy Nkonyeni, all educators, parents and the class of 2013 on these sterling results which represent a whopping 4.3 percent increase in performance from the 2012 pass rate.
We believe that the eradication of mud schools, the massive rollout of the no-fee schools programme, schools nutrition scheme, the new state of the art facilities and the learner transport programmes are some of our government's initiatives that have spectacularly improved the quality of our education.
The ANC is however concerned about the number of matric candidates who drop out before they write their final examinations and this requires urgent attention from all stakeholders. The ever increasing number of matriculants who qualify to enrol at tertiary institutions means that the institutions of higher learning should now make sure that they are better prepared to accommodate all of them.
Statement issued by ANC KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson, Senzo Mkhize, January 7 2013
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