There were some mixed feelings when the 2014 matric results were announced at the Linder Auditorium (Wits) in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Despite the drop, the Department of Education remained as cool as a cucumber stating, “The drop shows that the bar has been raised.”
The class of 2014 obtained a pass rate of 75,8 per cent, a total of 2,4 per cent drop to the 78,2 per cent achieved in 2013. In Gauteng the Democratic Alliance (DA) congratulated the province’s grade 12 pupils who successfully passed the 2014 National Senior Certificate exams and achieving the country’s highest pass rate of 84,7 per cent.
While the pass rate is much lower than MEC Panyaza Lesufi’s target of a 90 per cent pass rate, the province deserves recognition for claiming the top three and joint fifth districts in the country.
According to Khume Ramulifho, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, “Education opens doors for opportunities to build a better life, and Gauteng requires knowledgeable and skilled people to advance economic development to improve quality of life.
“Yet, while successfully passing matric may be the building blocks of a better life, further study is necessary to make that dream a reality – and the MEC now needs to focus attentions on improving the 34,4 per cent bachelor’s pass rates.
“The DA believes that to do so, it is important to ensure that the quality of matric passes are spread across the board across all quintile schools.”
Brand South Africa also congratulated all the Class of 2014 for successfully concluding their formal school careers.
“We wish the maticulants well as they pursue opportunities beyond the walls of their schools and urge them to play their part to positively contribute towards building our country,” Boitumelo Mpete from Brand SA said.
About the 2014 Matriculation exams:
• A total of 688 660 candidates were registered to write the year-end examination
• Of this number, 550 127 were full time students
• Kwazulu-Natal had the largest group of full time candidates and Gauteng had the lowest
• Girls dominated the cohort of 2014 candidates, making up 54.6 per cent of the matric group
• Examinations were written across 6740 locations with 65 000 invigilator’s overseeing the five-week writing period
• A total of 41 000 markers at 118 marking venues then tackled the assessment of the examination papers produced.
Related articles:
Randfontein-matrieks gaan groot
Azaadville matrics make school proud
