The decline of the 2006 matric pass rate by 1,7% indicates that ‘we are not yet as competent as we should be at achieving better outcomesâ€, said Education Minister Naledi Pandor.
Pandor was speaking at the announcement of the 2006 Senior Certificate Examination results in which the overall pass rate dropped to 66,6%.
She said the results indicated that ‘more hard, focused and diagnostically accurate work is needed to place us where we want to beâ€.
But she pointed out that, despite the poor results, 2006 recorded the highest number of matriculants in the past five years, an indication that more learners are accessing education.
However, she added provincial departments and district offices had failed to provide the necessary resources, personnel and support to schools to ensure better performance. Only those provinces and districts that provided the necessary support to their schools had produced good results.
‘The decline in the pass rate in some provinces suggests that access may have been promoted without due attention to the provision of qualitative support to ensure positive senior certificate outcomes,†Pandor said.
Provinces recorded varying performance rates, with four showing improvement while the remaining five experienced a decline. The four that improved their performance were: Eastern Cape, Gauteng, North West and Mpumalanga. The Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Northern and Western Cape performed below par, though some with only minor margins.
Pandor hailed Umalusi, the quality assurer, for ensuring that ‘the examinations were conducted in line with relevant policies and regulationsâ€. She dismissed the notion that the poor performance was because of the ‘high cognitive demand†of the papers.
‘Rather, our provincial education departments should intensify efforts at providing relevant, effective and consistent support to schools to ensure positive outcomes for all candidates,†she said.
Performance by provinces
Eastern Cape — 59,3%, an improvement from 56,7% in 2005.
Free State — 72,2%, a decline compared to 77,6% in 2005.
Gauteng — 78,3%, an improvement from 74,9% in 2005.
KwaZulu-Natal — 65,7%, a decline compared to 70,5% in 2005.
Limpopo — 55,7%, a decline compared to 64,9% in 2005.
Mpumalanga — 65,3%, an improvement from 58,6% in 2005.
North West — 67%, an improvement from 63% in 2005.
Northern Cape — 76,8%, a decline compared to 78,9% in 2005.
Western Cape — 83,7%, a decline compared to 84,4% in 2005.
Statistical information on the matric results
A total of 528 525 candidates sat for final examinations.
Of these, 351 503 passed the examinations (4 319 more than in 2005).
85 830 learners achieved exemptions or endorsements.
25 217 learners passed mathematics in the higher grade.
29 781 learners passed physical science in the higher grade.
There were 8 124 examination centres.
There were 29 731 markers with a total of 1 456 question papers.