Polokwane - In a message to the Class of 2010 - which started writing exams on Monday - Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale has urged matriculants to strive for a 60 percent matric pass.
"We have set our target for the matric pass rate at 60 percent. We remain positive that despite all we have gone through this year, we will still reach our target with the determination that you have as learners," said Mathale in a statement.
Last year, the province had a 48.9 percent pass rate, down from 55 percent in 2008.
He said that it was never too late to prepare for the exams and learners must prepare until the last minute before sitting for an exam.
Government had done "everything in its power" to ensure the education system would produce matrics who would be ready for universities and colleges.
"We are confident that we have groomed quality learners in the matriculants throughout their schooling," he said, while acknowledging that 2010 had presented several stumbling blocks that pupils had to overcome.
"We had the FIFA World Cup and the public servants' strike, both of which affected the time for learning at schools. But matriculants have to know that, individually, they will each have to account for their performance at the end of the year, despite all the challenges. We are calling on each and every one of them to take their destiny in their hands and make sure that victory is certain," Mathale said.
He also appealed to parents and guardians of pupils to support them during the exams.
