Over 20 000 Gauteng matric pupils who attended public schools failed their final exams, Gauteng’s provincial minister of education said on Thursday.
”It is indeed sad to have 21 572 learners failing their matric,” Angie Motshekga said.
Motshekga congratulated the 17 324 pupils who passed their examinations with matric endorsements, and the other 46 056 who passed the important exams.
”I am deeply humbled by the 7 254 [female] learners who passed with distinctions compared with 4 548 boys who passed with distinctions,” she said, adding that the total number of distinctions increased from 10 857 in 2006 to 11 802 in 2007.
She hoped the pupils who failed would rewrite in June 2008.
”Let me also join a chorus of parents and community formations in discouraging these learners in taking tragic decisions during these trying times of their lives.”
Motshekga said she was excited that the 2007 matric examination was the last form of ”apartheid education” with a new curriculum being introduced next year.
”The Gauteng province remains proud of those learners who performed well and we wish them the best of luck in their careers,” Motshekga said.
Results for independent schools are released separately. — Sapa