The National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) expressed concern regarding an estimated 42.5 percent of the cohort of 1 252 071 pupils who enrolled in Grade 1 in 2003, sat for the 2014 NSC examination.
Furthermore in 2013 there were 797 304 Grade 11 learners but only 532 553 full-time candidates wrote the 2014 NSC exam.
Basil Manuel, President of Naptosa asked where have the 264 751(33.2%) learners gone?
“NAPTOSA acknowledges the various reasons provided for the 50% plus dropout of learners from Grade 1 to Grade 12, but does not accept it,” he said.
Manuel said the decrease in the overall pass rate from 78.2% to 75.8% in 2014 demonstrates the integrity of the system in responding to the changing demands of the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS).
Last year also marked the completion of the implementation of the CAPS with the 2014 matric class being the first to write this exam for the National Senior Certificate.
According to Prof John Volmink, Chairman of Umalusi Council, the CAPS curriculum has strengthened the NCS.
“We now have a beautiful curriculum statement that is internationally benchmarked and is modern and relevant,” said Volmink, “It reflects the progressive values of the constitution, with a strong focus Africa and South Africa.”
He added that it is important to pay attention not only to the so-called gateway subjects but to all the subjects in order to see pupils emerging out of the schooling system “who are literate, numerate and multi-skilled, but who are also creative and confident, resilient and independent, compassionate and able to participate in society as critical and active citizens.”
