Backlogs: Learners pay the price with their mental health
The systemic failures in education mean that learners are not adequately prepared for their matric year
matric
‘Good’ matric results do not tell the whole picture of SA education
While education authorities celebrate the 87.3% pass rate for 2024, only 50% of pupils made it from grade 1 to grade 12. And young people also struggle to get jobs regardless of whether they matriculate or not.
Why you are not guaranteed a place at university even if you have the credentials
Institutions of higher learning cannot accommodate the tens of thousands of grade 12s who attain a Bachelor’s pass
What Vhembe’s success teaches us about quality education in South Africa
In 2020, Nelson Mandela University physics professor, Azwinndini Muronga, wrote in the Mail & Guardian about Vhembe’s remarkable performance in the 2019 national senior certificate results. Five years later, he examines what this means for South African education
The ubuntu economy can help tackle South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis
Using an ubuntu-based approach, centring care, creativity and climate, the education system can be changed to better align with aspirations and market needs
The classroom must adapt for Generation Alpha
Teachers must ensure mental health and create relevance for children of the digital age who know about identity diversity, global crises and an uncertain world
The future of international education is brighter than ever
Global learning is using new technologies, partnerships and innovative methods to be a relevant force in a rapidly changing world
Why you are not guaranteed a place at university even if you have the credentials
Institutions of higher learning cannot accommodate the tens of thousands of grade 12s who attain a Bachelor’s pass
What Vhembe’s success teaches us about quality education in South Africa
In 2020, Nelson Mandela University physics professor, Azwinndini Muronga, wrote in the Mail & Guardian about Vhembe’s remarkable performance in the 2019 national senior certificate results. Five years later, he examines what this means for South African education
Matric class of 2024 emerges triumphant
Crawford International’s grade 12 class of 2024 has continued the 100% pass rate standard
Equity is needed in SA’s education system
Congratulations to the matric class of 2024, but systemic changes are needed to create a fair and just education system
DA says it wants matric pass mark ‘incrementally’ increased to 50%
It’s detractors say the party has accepted the 30% pass because it is enjoying the benefits of the government of national unity
Grade 9 certificate to be rolled out at 1000 schools, but shouldn’t be seen as ‘exit option’
The general education certificate will recognise learner achievements at the end of the compulsory schooling phase
Matric results a misleading indicator of the education system
Celebrating a high pass rate masks deep-seated problems such as the millions of people who did not make it to matric
Matric: Eastern Cape teachers the unsung heroes
Despite obstacles faced by the learners, their hard work resulted in an 81.4% grade 12 pass rate
Matric class of 2023 bags 82.9% pass rate
The class of 2023 has obtained the second-highest results in the history of the NSC, according to the basic education department
Matric students need mental health support to handle exam stress, Sadag says
A recent poll by Unicef South Africa found that 73% of young people needed mental health support over the past year
Schools must allow parents’ voices to be heard to ensure quality education
Parents have a vital role in the education ecosystem; however, schools act in ways that leave caregivers feeling alienated and disempowered
Should we celebrate the 2022 matric pass rate?
One concern is the poor pass rate in maths and a growing number of learners drop to the easier subject of maths literacy.
KwaZulu-Natal students among top matric achievers of 2022 despite load-shedding
Parliament’s portfolio committee on basic education has applauded last year’s high national pass rate, but called for strategies to stop cheating in exams
Three youths share their matric rewrite experiences
Failing matric not only dents self-confidence, it closes many doors. But help is at hand if you know where to look
Matric: It’s time to democratise how we assign competence
South Africa is obsessed with the matric pass rate but this is not a measure of a person’s competence and excludes them from finding a job
Matric results 2021 mapped: how did your school do?
Which schools and districts improved and which didn’t? Our complete guide to the 2021 matric results.
2021 matrics set new record with a pass rate of 76.4%
Most bachelor passes and distinctions in the class of came from female learners
Basic education minister celebrates the top achievers in the class of 2021
Angie Motshekga says 2021’s matrics are in ‘a class of their own’ for having persevered through Covid-19 pandemic for two years
Court rules matric results will be published in the media
Court grants AfriForum’s application to compel the department of basic education to publish matric results in newspapers and online platforms
The problem with schools boasting 100% pass rates
Schools that boast of perfect pass rates often do so at the expense of weaker learners who are rooted out well ahead of the final exams.
Aunty Mina’s matric breakfasts a boost for Delft’s grade 12s
Learners writing their final exams are motivated by the delicious fare served at an oasis in Delft, Cape Town
Tackling youth unemployment requires sustained and coordinated action
Youth unemployment is not often discussed in all its complexities. Like a game of snakes and ladders, this crisis is the result of compounding roadblocks and U-turns that young South Africans face. Solving it requires coordinated action
New education certificate could help limit school dropouts
To be effective, the General Education Certificate must plug gaps, not create new ones
School system produces dropouts who are used to drive unrest
Our government needs to interrogate our education system because worse is still to come through the hands of the youngsters who they have failed
To succeed, learners need help in making the right subject choices
Every year an average of 300 000 learners leave school before reaching matric. Rather than waiting for young people to become disengaged, there are easy ways we can set them up for success