Forget pass rate, focus on quality of passes – unions, education expert react to matric results Updated
Nokukhanya N Mntambo
GCIS
The Educators Union of South Africa (EUSA) and the Professional Educators Union (PEU) are not surprised by the 5.1% drop in the pass rate.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced the matric pass rate on Monday.
The class of 2020 achieved 76.2% - a substantial drop from the previous year.
The class of 2020 wrote their final exams last year under the added pressure of adjusted learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
EUSA spokesperson Kabelo Mahlobogwane says the pass rate speaks to deeper issues within the education sector.
Angie to announce matric results on Monday afternoon 22 February 2021 - 11:56 Image: Freddy Mavunda Minister of basic education Angie Motshekga is expected to announce the 2020 matric results on Monday afternoon.
Although the leakage of mathematics and physical science (both paper 2) threatened the integrity of the exams, last week Umalusi (The quality assurance body) approved the release of 2020 results.
It was the first time that the department administered a combined examination which saw more than a million candidates sitting for their final matric exams.
Deputy minister Reginah Mhaule said from Tuesday, candidates can collect their statements of results from their schools.
“Class of 2020, are you ready? You have done your best under difficult circumstances and we wish you all the best with your results,” Mhaule said.
PHOTO: GCIS
The country s five major unions surveyed 4 309 principals across the nine provinces, which amounts to 19% of schools nationally.
The second school readiness survey for 2021 showed an improvement in principals confidence to reopen schools.
The first survey was conducted in January.
Sixty-six percent of public school principals, surveyed by unions, say they are ready for schools to open come Monday.
This, according to the findings of the second national school readiness survey for 2021 conducted by five of the country s major teachers unions - the SA Democratic Teachers Union, National Professional Teachers Organisation of SA, South African Teachers Union, Professional Educators Union and National Teachers Union.
Teacher unions welcomes NCCC s proposal to pause reopening schools georgeherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from georgeherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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