LIMPOPO – The Department of Education last week closed the nine schools that obtained a 0% pass rate in the 2019 National Senior Certificate Examination.
The schools that were closed are Roedtan Combined, Kgabedi, Makobateng, Makama, Kanama, Manawe, Mokhulwane, Matsebe and Mahlaba secondary schools.
Five of these schools are situated in Sekhukhune, while the remaining four are in the Capricorn and Waterberg regions respectively.
The schools had enrolled a combined total of 65 learners last year.
The department ascribed the schools’ poor performance to the low enrolment number.
During an interview with CV, the MEC, Polley Boshielo said they have appealling to the communities to work with them in terms of the rationalisation of schools.
“This was done so we could properly merge some schools who had just a few learners. In doing so, we could provide better education.”
Boshielo said smaller schools are often costly to the system, unsustainable, and produce failing learners.
Teachers from the schools involved would be transferred to neighbouring schools where there are more learners, she added.
“We are currently at an advanced stage to complete the process of providing learners with proper transport to ensure that all learners who were enrolled in these schools, can have access to their new schools.”
She said this year, the department’s focus would include improving support in Grades R to nine, in an effort to ensure learners attain fundamental competencies such as reading, writing an enumerating. The latter are basic skills required for further learning in higher grades, explained the MEC.
In 2014, Limpopo achieved a 72,9 % pass rate with the performance declining to 65,9% in 2015.
In 2016, a further decline was seen to 62,5%. In 2017, the rate increased to 65,6% and 69,4% in 2018.
The year 2019 saw an increase of 3,8% to a 73,2% matric pass rate.
“This is a clear indication that we are on the right track towards achieving the 80% matric pass rate target as set out in the Limpopo Development Plan. Out of the 70 847 candidates in the 2019 examinations, 51 855 passed.
