EDITORIAL: The real crisis of SA’s matric results
More than a quarter of the pupils who wrote matric in 2016 did not meet the basic requirements and are deemed to have ‘failed’
To place all the attention every year on the overall matric pass rate is like watching a rugby match, and then writing a report only on the activities of the ball-boys. Yes, it is true to say that the overall pass rate is 72.5% — but this is irrelevant. Sure, the number sounds reasonable enough, because it is a little better than in previous years and isn’t getting worse. This is why basic education minister Angie Motshekga feels able to say the system is "moving in the right direction". Well, the truth is, it’s a scandal, and will remain so until the pass rate is 99%. Those who argue we must just keep slogging away with the present system don’t understand the problem. For instance, universities know that high achievement in school mathematics is essential if a student is to cope in fields like medicine, the sciences, engineering and architecture. In theory, a pass in matric maths is enough, but in practice the bar is being moved ever higher, so that now a distinction (more than 80%...
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