NC improves distinctions and university entrance passes
Kimberley – The outcomes of the 2013 matric results have shown a balance between the quantitative and qualitative improvement.
The number of matric learners who passed with distinction has increased from 1 414 in 2012 to 1 775 in 2013. This is an increase of 361 more learners compared to 2012.
A total of 2 424 learners passed with university entrance which amounts to an increase of 369 more learners compared to 2012. This is the highest pass rate of the province in the past five years.
When announcing the matric results today, Northern Cape MEC for Education, Grizelda Cjiekella-Lecholo said while the province did not achieve the 80 percent matric pass target, there were more gains than losses from the 2013 matric results.
“There is no greater joy in the fact that we have managed to increase the numbers of learners who passed their matric compared to 2012. This is an achievement we are celebrating today.
“In the history of National Senior Certificate, when learner numbers increase, there is normally a decline in the overall pass rate but this was not a case with us. We had 10 403 full time candidates who wrote the NSC examination which represented the highest cohort of candidates over the last five year. In 2012 we had 8925 candidates. This represents an increase of 1 088 more candidates last year,” said Cjiekella Lecholo.
MEC said the decline in Afrikaans home language pass rate has contributed to the province not meeting the 80 percent target. The slight decline in the pass rate in both Frances Baard and Siyanda districts is also attributed to the failure rate recorded in the Afrikaans home language.
A total of 7 749 candidates passed as compared to the 6 661 in 2012. The overall pass rate for 2013 has been maintained at 74, 5 percent. No school performed below 30 percent in the province in 2013.
In Namaqua district, there is no school that performed below 60 percent and only five schools in Pixley ka Seme district remains below the 60 percent mark. Only two schools in ZF Mcqwau district performed below 60 percent.