The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, has welcomed the marked improvement in National Senior Certificate (NSC) results, especially the system’s upward trajectory in qualitative output. The 80.1% pass rate points to a maturing system that requires a redoubling of efforts to ensure greater achievements.
The improvement in the NSC results is encouraging, especially in the context of the impact of Covid-19 on the 2022 cohort’s experience of teaching and learning. These results point to the system’s resilience and the commitment of key stakeholders to ensure success, despite various challenges.
The committee commends the steady improvement in the system’s output quality, as vouched for by reports from international bodies such as Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study and Progress in International Reading Literacy Study. The 80.1% and the fact that all provinces achieved above the 70% threshold should be used as a marker for future improvements.
In efforts to confront poverty, the committee welcomes the announcement that 387 000 learners from quintile 1-3 schools(no-fee-paying schools) passed matric. This represents an increase of 9.2% in the pass rate in these schools. This increase creates a platform upon which education can halt the scourge of poverty.
Also, the incremental improvement in the retention rate of learners who started Grade R 13 years ago and have now written their matric exams is welcomed. It is also commendable that there is an increase in part-time learners taking the opportunity to attain their NSC qualification. “An improved retention rate gives life to the constitutional imperative of the right to education for every child. The department and its role-players must strengthen their retention interventions to ensure that more learners are retained within the system,” Ms Mbinqo-Gigaba said.
Similarly, the steady increase in the retention of girl leaners is welcomed, as South Africa intensifies its fight against patriarchy. The committee welcomes 326 894 girls in the system, an increase from last year of 10%. However, the committee is concerned that despite the high retention rate for female learners, there continues to be a disparity in performance between male and female leaners.
It is worth noting that the overall improvement is anchored on an upsurge in candidates achieving bachelor passes, with an improvement of 8.9%. This is testament to the hard work of the 2022 cohort of learners, teachers, parents and everyone within the education value chain. “This hard work and dedication must be replicated in the 2023 academic year and also replicated throughout the system to ensure quality education for all in South Africa,’ Ms Mbinqo-Gigaba suggested.
Despite the improvement, the committee remains concerned about sporadic irregularities noted during the examinations. While the committee welcomes the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training’sassurance that the irregularities are not systematic and do notimpact on results, the committee has called for strategies aimed at preventing these irregularities in future so that they do not persist within the system. The committee has also called for the law to take its course against those who committedindiscretions during the examination process.
The committee also re-emphasises its call that focus should be directed toward the whole system and not just Grade 12 to ensure steady progression throughout. This should be done by ensuring that teachers are in class and teaching from the lower grades to prepare leaners to cope with the demands of Grade 12.
It remains concerning that there are schools that continue to struggle to achieve acceptable results, which points to challenges within their environments. The committee re-emphasised its call for collaboration between performing and non-performing schools to enable sharing of good practice.
Despite the successes, the committee wishes to encourage learners who did not make it to take advantage of the various avenues available for them. “Failing this year is not the end of the world. There are many opportunities that can be exploited. These learners should take some time to explore those opportunities. We also call on families to be there for learners and offer them the needed support,” Ms Mbinqo-Gigaba emphasised.
As the academic year starts, the committee has called for a recommitment from departmental officials, teachers and parents to the 2023 cohort of learners. The committee calls on them to work hard to ensure that the system works by ensuring a conducive environment for teaching and learning. Also, the committee calls on all provincial departments to complete the process of placing learners in schools to enable them to get on with their learning. For its part, the committee will continue to focus its oversight on ensuring an efficient system despite prevalent challenges.