/ 4 January 2012

IEB matric pupils boast 98.15% pass rate for 2011

Matriculants who wrote the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) national senior certificate examination can begin their year on a positive note — boasting a 98.15% pass rate, only a slight drop compared to last year’s pass rate of 98.38%.

In 2011, a total of 8 281 pupils (205 more than 2010), from 173 schools across the country wrote the IEB examination.

  • For full results, featured student profiles and options for life after school, look at the IEB microsite

Of the 98.15% who passed, 81.67% qualified for entry to degree study, while 14.37% received entry to diploma study and 2.11% achieved entry to study at the higher certificate level.

Furthermore, 59 outstanding students ranked within the top 5% of all IEB students in six or more of the NSC subjects they offered, as well as achieved a rating of seven (over 80%) in Life Orientation.

“The wonderful achievements of the IEB Class of 2011 have been made possible because of the hard work of the pupils and teachers and the support they have received from their parents and schools,” says Anne Oberholzer, chief executive of the IEB.

Head at Domino Servite School in Kwazulu-Natal, Dorothy Newlands said such outstanding achievements “are a result of hard work and commitment of students and teachers that begin at an early age and continues throughout one’s schooling career. In addition to this a low percentage of absenteeism, good focus as well as higher order thinking skills can be attributed to exam success. Ultimately if learning stems from a lifestyle based on good morals, values and discipline then success will follow naturally.”

Science drop
Despite the excellent pass rate, the IEB has been concerned by the steady decline in the number of pupils who take Physical Sciences in Grade 12 — from 52.3% in 2008 to 47.4% in 2011.

However, the IEB said it is optimistic that the curriculum revisions made in 2011 would make Physical Sciences a more attractive option for pupils.

The Combined Abitur-NSC qualification
The Combined Abitur-NSC qualification, offered by German schools in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria, consisting of five subjects assessed by the IEB and seven subjects assessed by the German education authorities, gives South African pupils recognition and entry at German universities. Out of 56 candidates, 55 gained entry to tertiary study in 2011. One learner achieved an exceptional performance.

The IEB is an independent assessment agency, separate from state and provincial examination boards, operating within the constraints of national legislation and provisions of the national quality assurance body, Umalusi.

The IEB results are available as of January 4, while government results are to be released on January 5.