Gauteng Department of Education can still claim some bragging rights following the release of the 2016 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results.
The province dropped its position nationally, but still remains in the top three performing provinces.
On another positive note, Gauteng schools came out on top in the 2016 matric results, producing the highest number of pupils who obtained minimum requirements for admission to bachelor’s degree. The province also recorded a 1.1 per cent increase in the overall pass rate which is currently at 87 percent, an improvement compared to 2015.
Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga announced the 2016 National Senior Certificate results on 4 January in Midrand where the above details were revealed. The minister mentioned that the Grade 12 class of 2016 has achieved a 76.2 per cent pass rate, an increase from 74 percent for 2015.
Motshekga also highlighted that the class of 2016 had recorded the highest enrollment of Grade 12s in the history of basic education in the country.
Interestingly, the minister also shared that a total of about 108 000 schoolchildren from all provinces were progressed to matric. “These are learners who had failed Grade 11 twice and were pushed to Grade 12 without passing,” Motshekga explained, adding that is it was important for the department to to ensure that every child leaves school with a qualification.
“The pass rate for 2016, progressed learners excluded, is 76.2 per cent, which is up from 74 per cent which we had [in 2015]. With progressed learners it stands at 72.5 per cent which, again, is an improvement from last year [2015] when we had 70 per cent.
On 5 January, Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi announced the provincial results. He commended the class of 2016 for their hard work. “Our learners, like soldiers, fought well,” Lesufi said.
He mentioned that the provincial results demonstrate that there is improvement and stability in the province. The MEC also highlighted that Gauteng leads with 32 schools that received a l00 per cent pass rate, with 13 of those schools being in townships.
