By Libuseng Nyaka
QWAQWA – The Free State’s failure to secure many bachelor’s passes despite retaining pole position in the country is regarded in some quarters as quantity not quality.
The province has proven beyond doubt that position one is no longer up for competition after defending it for six consecutive years; this year it went beyond the 90 percent mark an increase from 89.3 percent last year.
Despite not leading in terms of bachelor’s passes, Free Sate education MEC Dr Julia Maboya said the province has increased its bachelor pass rate.
“As a province we are really proud of our learners, teachers, school governing bodies, parents as well as unions for the support we got from them.
“I think it is in this province where we have demonstrated that indeed education is a societal matter. We have seen we have really done well this year. We have hit the 91 percent pass rate as we said, but we have also increased in terms of the bachelor passes.
“Also what is impressive about our results is that we have increased the number of schools that have performed at 100 percent and not only 100 percent but also 90 percent upwards. I think we have done very well in terms of that; there are far more than 60 percent I think.”
However, the matric results have been met with mixed feeling with some saying passing by bachelor’s passes does not translate into students ultimately passing a bachelor’s degree and getting employed after competing their degree. With the high unemployment of graduates, some say TVET colleges which are based on skills development and prepare students to become entrepreneurs and business owners are the best another area worth exploration.
Reacting to the recent released Matric results Nicho Swartz, did not take anything away from the hard work that learners put in to achieve the results, but he said there is a need for consideration of what the results really mean.
“Where are the rest of the cohort of learners that started grade1 with the class of 2024? How many are still in the school system and if not, how many are skilled to be employed to become contributing members of society. Of this many matriculants, how many have access to higher education institution and how many have achieved bachelor’s passes and still do not have the funding to complete post-matric.
How many learners achieved bachelor’s passes, but AP is below the university required 28 points? How many of these kids are technically just unemployed youth even after obtaining a degree eventually? Does that equate to an automatic job afterwards?”
Swartz suggested that this is time to focus on how to remedy the above mentioned challenges.
His sentiments were echoed by Makhetha Thabana.
In between Free State Education MEC Dr Julia Maboya.
“Free State has for years achieved the first spot in matric results, but what it has failed to achieve is to garner more bachelor’s passes like some of the provinces like Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
“With time I have changed my perspective and how I view the results of the Free State. The production of some diploma and certificates passes does not imply quality as many would think. It represents a fresh opportunity for the department of higher education and training to strengthen technical, vocational education and training (TVET) in the Free State so that artisans and technicians can be produced in numbers and TVET colleges should be resourced adequately with qualified staff to teach.”
According to emeritus professor in education at the University of Stellenbosch, Michael Cordeur, the Free State has the highest rate of pupils who drop out of the system from grade 10 to matric.
Meanwhile, parliament’s Select Committee on Education, Science and Creative Industries has noted with appreciation the improvement in Grade 12 results for provinces that traditionally achieved lower pass rates.
The chairperson of the committee Makhi Feni said it gave him great pleasure to see KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) move up to second place and closing in on a 90 percent pass rate.
“The last provinces have improved as well, particularly the Eastern Cape, which registered an 85 percent pass rate. This effort is highly appreciated and noted. This is an indication that provinces have their eyes on the ball.
“We are seriously moving to curb the differences between rural and urban provinces when it comes to results and output. This speaks to equal share and adequate support availed to all schools when it came resources, curriculum needs, materials, and learning and teaching times,” he said.
Matric results were announced by the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, on Monday, 13 January. The Free State achieved the highest pass rate, followed by KZN for the first time. Overall, the country achieved an 87.5 percent of the pass rate.
However, Feni said the committee is concerned about the pending educator job cuts in the Western Cape.
“It seems the committee will need to invite the province, as the DBE clarified that there won’t be educator job cuts. The Western Cape has been threatening these for a while now. We do not want public and township schools to be affected by these 2 000 lost posts, as it will have significant effects.
“Educator job cuts have a potential to bring about regression. The talk should now be about how to strengthen teaching in public schools. The committee will be watching with keen interest this matter and others such as school safety, as well as the implementation of the recently signed Basic Education Laws Amendment Act.”
