2015 matric class retains above 70% pass rate
The number of so-called "progressed learners" pushed down the matric pass rate for 2015, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga.
BASIC Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, has commended the matric class of 2015 for upholding the trend of producing results above a pass rate of 70 per cent. On Tuesday, the minister announced that the 2015 matric pass rate is 70.7 per cent, down from 75.8 per cent achieved in 2014. if the “progressed learners” had not been added to the total, the pass rate would have been 74 per cent. These were pupils who failed Grade 11 twice and were promoted to Grade 12 without meeting the passing criteria.
Minister Mothekga said although this is a decline from last year, the class of 2015 was the largest cohort in the history of basic education in the country. The total number of candidates who registered for the November 2015 NSC examinations was 799 306, comprising 667 925 full time candidates and 131 381 part time candidates.
“This is 110 thousand candidates more than those enrolled for the 2014 NSC examinations.”
Increase in Bachelor passes
The minister also said there was an increase in the number of learners qualifying for admission to Bachelor degrees from 150 737 in 2014 to 166 263 in 2015.
The performance in Mathematics and Physical Science, which are gateway subjects, has also shown an increase in the number of passes, although the pass percentage in these subjects has decreased. The number of learners passing Mathematics has increased from 120 523 in 2014 to 129 481 in 2015; while the number of learners passing Physical Science has increased from 103 348 in 2014 to 113 121 in 2015.
“In 2015 there were 3 711 more distinctions achieved by learners than in 2014. In 2014, 157 913 distinctions were achieved, whereas in 2015 161 624 distinctions were achieved. In the 12 key subjects (including Mathematics, Physical Science, Accounting, among others) the total number of distinctions increased from 59 981 in 2014 to 63 348 in 2015,” said Motshekga.
Western Cap top achiever
Western Cape became the overall top achiever with a pass rate of 84.7 percent, up from 82.2 per cent in 2014, showing an improvement of 2.5 per cent. Western Cape had 53 721 candidates in total, out of which 22 739 are Bachelor passes.
The province was followed by Gauteng with 84.2 percent.
“We need to congratulate Gauteng for producing the largest number of Bachelor passes at 38 760. Gauteng had 108 442 candidates in total. Well done to MEC Lesufi and his team,” said the minister.
The third on the list was Free State with 81.6 percent. Motshekga said the department must pay particular attention to KZN, Limpopo and Eastern Cape if it wants to improve the overall NSC national picture.
