South Africans are poring over the latest set of matric results which show how the country’s school leavers performed in their final exams after 12 years of formal schooling. Nearly 718,000 people wrote the exams and 72.5% of them passed – a small increase on last year. The results always generate a great deal of debate – and often anger. The Conversation Africa’s education editor Natasha Joseph asked Associate Prof Elizabeth Walton to explain the results and why it is crucial to remember the young people behind the numbers. There is a huge focus on matric results every year, particularly on the national pass rate. Is this a useful obsession? I am not convinced that this annual obsession with matric results is productive. The national pass rate is a blunt instrument with which to dissect SA’s very complex educational problems. The national pass rate obscures important differences in provincial achievements, the urban/rural divide and the unequal outcomes for pupils in poorer schools...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.