/ 6 January 2013

Prisoners achieve 79.25% matric pass rate

Prisoners Achieve 79.25% Matric Pass Rate

"We want to congratulate our inmates on achieving a 79.25% pass rate in the 2012 NSC examinations, and wish them every success in their efforts to empower, and improve, their lives. We also want to convey our appreciation to all role-players, including the educators, tutors and correctional officials," Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele said in a statement.

The 2012 pass rate was higher compared to the 2011 which was at 66.66%.

Of the 53 offenders who wrote all subjects, 22 of them achieved results that qualified them to study towards Bachelor qualifications, 15 qualified to study towards Diploma and five qualified towards a Higher Certificate.

The Johannesburg Correctional Centre School was the best performing school with a 94.11% pass rate.

UseThubeni Youth School in KwaZulu-Natal became the second with 81.48% pass rate followed by Emthonjeni Combined School in Gauteng Region which achieved 66.66%.

Ndebele also congratulated the inmates studying towards post-matric who passed their qualifications.

He said from the new financial year – April 1 – it would be compulsory for inmates without qualification equivalent to Grade 9 to complete Adult Education andTraining level one to four.

"We are working towards turning our prisons into learning centres, and we want offenders to read, read, read, study, study, study and work, work, work … Key to rehabilitation is empowering offenders to have skills to function effectively in society," Ndebele said. – Sapa