By Phumzile Mahlangu*
The latest Matric results show that our education system is on the upward trajectory and that we are stronger when we work together. The Class of 2023 achieved an 82,9 percent pass rate surpassing the 80.1 percent recorded in 2022 and is the highest since the dawn of democracy.
This huge milestone is the outcome of the joint effort by teachers, learners, parents and many others who are involved in our initiatives to address the legacy of apartheid in our education system. It is also as a result of government’s substantial investment in education especially in improving school infrastructure, sanitation and the provision of teacher and learner support materials to schools in poor districts.
We have through the Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI) launched in 2011, provided suitable structures to a number of schools made entirely of inappropriate materials as well as water infrastructure and electricity. Furthermore, we have significantly reduced the number of schools dependent on pit toilets through the Sanitation Appropriate For Education (SAFE) that was launched in 2018.
The results show that learners from poorer households continue to improve and qualify for university entrance. For instance, those who receive some form of social grant achieved more than 160,000 distinctions, and more than 200,000 qualified for university entrance. Furthermore, more than 65 percent of the total bachelor passes obtained are learners from no-fee paying schools.
These results come at a time when our country is celebrating the 30 Years of Freedom and Democracy. The commemoration provides us with an opportunity to reflect on progress we have made to transform our education system in particular to make it more equal for all citizens.
As government we are encouraged that without a doubt we have achieved a lot since 1994. Prior to 1994, each designated ethnic group had its own education system that fostered separate schooling. At every level there were glaring inequalities between the schooling systems, with the best reserved for white schools. This applied to teacher qualifications, teacher-pupil ratios, per capita funding, buildings, equipment, facilities, books, and stationery.
We began by unifying 19 different departments of education into a single Department of Basic Education. In 2010, we attained the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education.
It is fair to say that we have laid the building blocks to reverse the legacy of apartheid and realised the ideals of our founding fathers who wanted to see all South Africans having access to quality education.
We have also developed policies that ensure every child, irrespective of their family background is given the best start in the early years as envisioned in the National Development Plan. Government’s drive to enrol children in Early Childhood Development Programme learning has helped to lay the foundation for functional literacy and lifelong learning.
This policy covers most facets of early childhood development, such as nutrition, heath, protection and early learning. The Census 2022 demonstrates that the introduction of no-fee schools, Early Childhood Development and school nutrition programmes has had a positive impact on enrolments and improvements in the outputs of the educational system.
As we commemorate 30 years of democracy and freedom, we encourage learners who qualify for higher education studies but have not been accepted to apply through Central Application Clearing House (CACH) at https://cach.cas.ac.za/. CACH assists prospective students who want to enter tertiary education but face challenges with getting a space.
We further call on parents, caregivers and communities to be supportive of the Class of 2023 as they pursue their dream. Through our support and encouragement, we can help them realise their potential and allow them to take their place in growing and building our nation.
Phumzile Mahlangu is Assistant Director: Communication Resource Centre at GCIS
