Educationists and the official opposition have said South Africas real public school matric pass rate is just over 55%, as opposed to the 82.9% announced by the department of basic education last week.
They have also taken the department to task for failing to implement measures to improve learner development.
Our basic education system is seriously challenged and has been so for way too long. If we are to meaningfully change this picture, we must acknowledge and be more deliberate in addressing some key challenges, according to the head of corporate social investment at Investec, Setlogane Manchidi.
When announcing the matric pass rate last week, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said this was the highest in the history of the National Senior Certificate results.
The class of 2023 showed the greatest determination, fortitude and resolve to overcome all odds, similar to the class of 2022 a good sign of maturing and resilience, said Motshekga.
The Independent Examinations Board (IEB) said its class of 2023 obtained an overall pass rate of 98.46%.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) contested the departments pass rate, saying the real rate is 55.3% if learners who dropped out of school are added into the equation.
The real matric pass rate is calculated by bringing into account the number of learners that dropped out and never made it to matric, said the DA spokesperson on education, Baxolile Nodada.
But former Gauteng education MEC, Mary Metcalfe, dismissed the DAs claims, saying quality assurance monitor Umalausi had proven to be effective in the countrys education system.
The DBE [department of basic education
