The annual release of the South African (SA) matric pass rate is a moment both celebrated and scrutinised. This year, according to government calculations, it is a record-breaking 82.9% which sent a wave of pride across the nation and had the government laud the outcome.
However, whispers of manipulated calculations and concerns about a skewed reality linger beyond the celebratory headlines. To truly understand the state of education in SA, we must delve deeper than the headline numbers and explore the complexities behind the seemingly triumphant statistic.
Shifting Sands: The Changing Definition of “Pass”
The controversy primarily stems from the Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) decision to alter the pass requirement for certain subjects. Languages, Mathematics and Physical Science, considered foundational for further study, now require only 40% to pass, down from 50%. This reduction, while seemingly inconsequential, significantly inflates the overall pass rate, including students who may barely grasp the subject matter. Critics argue that lowering the bar diminishes the true measure of student achievement and risks compromising future academic success and ability to find gainful employment.
The Illusion of Progress: Masking Dropout Crisis of 40%
The inflated pass rate also fails to consider the significant number of students who did not reach the finish line. Dropout rates (40%) remain alarmingly high, with nearly a quarter of learners failing to write the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams. This paints a far grimmer picture than the headline statistics suggest. Excluding dropouts and focusing solely on those who wrote the exams creates a selective pool, masking the wider challenges within the education system.
Unequal Outcomes: A Tale of Two Systems
The pass rate disparity between public and private schools further reveals the stark realities of educational inequality. While the national average celebrates an 82.9% pass rate, private schools boast figures upwards of 95%. This stark contrast exposes the deep fissures in access to quality education, with wealthier families able to afford costly private schooling reaping significantly better outcomes. Only 41% of government school learners received a Bachelor Pass while 89% at IEB schools (private schools) were achieved.
Beyond the Numbers: Seeking Meaningful Measures
Focusing solely on the headline pass rate creates a dangerously incomplete picture. To truly gauge the health of SA education, we must look beyond manipulated metrics and consider factors such as:
- Dropout rates: Understanding how many students fall by the wayside, revealing the systemic challenges impeding access to education;
- Quality of education: Focusing on learning outcomes and student competencies, not just pass rates, is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of teaching and learning practices.
- Equity and access: Addressing disparities in resources and opportunities between public and private schools is essential for creating a truly level playing field.
Navigating the Path Forward: Embracing Transparency and Accountability
Moving forward, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) must prioritise transparency and accountability in its reporting of matric pass rates. Disaggregating data by subject, province and school type would provide a more nuanced and accurate picture of student achievement. Additionally, investing in comprehensive early childhood education and addressing root causes of dropout, such as poverty and social challenges, are crucial for laying the foundation for long-term improvement.
The celebration of the 82.9% matric pass rate must be tempered with critical analysis. Recognising the limitations of manipulated metrics and focusing on deeper indicators of educational success is essential. Only then can we truly assess the state of education in SA and chart a course towards a future where quality education is accessible to all, not just a privileged few. By delving beyond the numbers and embracing honest introspection, SA can then ensure that the pursuit of academic success goes beyond mere statistics and translates into lasting progress for all its students.
BusinessTech, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and various other trustworthy and experts had proven that the real matric pass rate is in fact just over 55%. In 2022, the required pass rate was just 30% – something that only 125 526 candidates achieved during that year. That led to experts believing that maths is in crisis. The same situation faces the Sciences in government schools.
While we applaud the 455,825 matrics who had passed the 2023 exams, we list links to articles which show how the pass rate is manipulated. Despite the Minister of Education’s boast that there is no crisis in SA’s education system, many of these learners who “passed” would prove in the long run that not even the basics of certain subjects such as languages, maths and sciences are comprehended. Recently, various research documents were published showing that the digital divide of first year students at SA universities are downright shocking with many not even able to perform basic research tasks on computers. This research has been undertaken since 2022.
- https://chro.co.za/articles/matric-pass-rate-a-misleading-figure-says-equal-education/
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234764224_Computer_skills_of_first-year_students_at_a_South_African_University
- https://www.itweb.co.za/article/disaster-in-the-making-as-south-african-schools-remain-unconnected/KjlyrvwBzBXqk6am
