Motshekga said the year saw the decline in national matric pass rate with a drop of 2.4 percentage points.
Motshekga said, “In 2013 we achieved 78.2 percent, we had surpassed our target with a year to go. The national pass rate for the Class of 2014 is 75.8 percent, and sadly had a drop of 2.4 percentage points.”
However on the positive side, the minister said of the total number of pupils who wrote the examination in 2014, 150 752 (28.3 precent) qualified for admission to Bachelor degree studies. She also stated that the top performing province for 2014 is Gauteng which has achieved 84.7 percent, down from 87 percent in 2013, a drop of 2.3 percentage points. “Well done to MEC Phanyaza Lesufi and his team from Gauteng,” the minister said.
In terms of numbers, Gauteng contributed the highest number of candidates qualifying for Bachelor degree studies in 2014 at 36 843, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 35 724 and Western Cape at 18 524. The number of Bachelor pass from Limpopo are also notable at 16 325.
“What is also interesting to note is that there has been an increase in achievements by distinction in some subjects. History increased from 3.3 percent to 4.1 percent, mathematical literacy increased from 1.8 percent to 2.4 percent and physical science increased from 3 percent to 3.3 percent.
Motshekga said in terms of the examination irregularities reported by Umalusi with specific reference to group copying in the Kwa Zulu Natal and Eastern Cape Provinces, results of 39 centres in Kwa Zulu Natal and 19 centres in the Eastern Cape were subjected to an investigative audit by both the DBE and Umalusi.
She said, “11 centres in Kwa Zulu Natal and three centres in Eastern Cape had been cleared of any irregular activity. The remaining 28 centres in Kwa Zulu Natal and 16 centres in the Eastern Cape will be further investigated and this will be finalised by end of January.”
