HIGHVELD – The Mpumalanga Department of Education has set itself a 90 per cent target for the matric pass rate this year.
Ms Nokuthula Mthethwa, district director of the department, said this in her message of support to pupils who will be writing their preparatory examinations from 5 September to 2 October and the final examinations from 27 October to 28 November.
“As we are celebrating 20 years of freedom in our country, the Mpumalanga Department of Education also prides itself with practical excellent stories told through our Grade 12 results.”
The province improved its matric pass rate from 48 per cent in 2009 to 57 per cent in 2010, from 65 per cent in 2011 to 70 per cent in 2012 and obtained 80 per cent after the writing of supplementary examinations last year.
The district, on the other hand, obtained 52 per cent in 2009, 59 per cent in 2010, 65 per cent in 2011, 69 per cent in 2012 and 78 per cent after the writing of supplementary examinations last year.
“It is a pleasure to acknowledge and celebrate the sustainability of achievement of results in our district.”
Ms Reginah Mhaule, MEC for the department, introduced other methods of assistance the Grade 12 pupils from 21 July until the day of the examinations and are as follows:
* Dial-a-Tutor, a programme where a pupil contact a tutor for assistance while studying at home at 087 805 1350 between 6pm to 8pm from Mondays to Thursdays.
* Text-a-Tutor, this programme replaces the proposed tweet-a-tutor to include pupils without access to smart phones and it is up and running from 21 July and focuses on mathematics and science.
* Radio lessons run on 10 community radio stations between 3pm to 3.30pm from Mondays to Thursdays.
* Previous years’ question papers are available at www.mpumalanga.gov.za/education.
