Pretoria – Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says the targeted matric pass rate of 75% by 2014 is well within reach.
“… (We) did witness sustained improvement in matric exam results. This is a result of systemic interventions for strengthening and raising performance in all levels of the system.
“The matric pass rate climbed to 73.9% in 2012. Our targeted growth, at 75% by 2014, is well within reach,” said Motshekga while delivering the 2013/14 Budget Vote in Parliament today.
She further said they were on target to deliver 175 000 university entrants by 2014.
“In 2012, the number of Grade 12 learners who qualified for Bachelor studies rose to 136 047. It was 120 767 in 2011. This is an increase of 15 280 learners.”
Motshekga said the number of learners who became ready for Bachelor level studies almost doubled over the last 12 years, from around 70 000 in 2000 to around 136 000 in 2012.
She said the number of passes in Mathematics, at 121 970 for 2012, was 17 937 more than the 104 033 of 2011.
The number of passes in Physical Science, at 109 918 in 2012, was 13 477 more than the 96 441 of 2011, the minister said.
Motshekga said her department intended to ensure that every learner has a textbook in every subject.
“We will continue to improve access and utilisation of Learner Teacher Support Materials in all grades and all subjects.
“In terms of national policy, it’s a key priority for every learner to have access to a minimum set of textbooks and workbooks,” she said.
Motshekga said the 2011 survey had put the department at 78% for literacy and 83% for Maths.
“This is still unacceptable. We want to have every learner with a book in every subject,” she said.
Motshekga said it was the department’s responsibility to address inequalities in education.
“We are therefore mindful of economic disparities resulting from apartheid education. This is a part of the rationale for centralising procurement of books.
She said the development of the National Catalogue of Textbooks for Grades 7-9 and 12 commenced in November 2012 and was completed in March 2013. – SAnews.gov.za
