Head of Department and Programme Director, Mrs Mahlasedi Mhlabane,
Honourable Speaker of the Provincial Legislature, Honourable SW Lubisi,
Members of the Executive Council,
Members of the Portfolio Committee,
House of Traditional Leaders under the ambit of KgoŠi Mokoena,
Executive Mayors present,
SAPS and the leadership of the Provincial Commissioner, Lt General TR Ntobela,
Representatives from the Security Cluster,
Provincial Secretary of the Ruling Party in Government, Cde. Lucky Ndinisa,
Political Structures,
Examination Board Members, led by Dr Henk Jooste,
Director-General, Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize ( Khabazela),
Members of Senior Management,
Representatives from COSATU,
Leadership of Teacher Unions,
COSAS,
Top Ten Learners and their Parents/Guardians,
Top Learners and their teachers,
Principals,
Media Houses,
Circuit Managers,
Representatives from institutions of Higher Leaning,
Professor Niek Grove , The Registrar – University of Pretoria,
Dr MDJ Matshabaphala, Director Executive Management Programmes,
The WITS Graduate School of Public and Development Management,
NYDA,
Reps from Districts,
Mpumalanga Education Development Trust,
Curriculum Implementers,
Associations of School Governing Bodies,
Circuit and School Patrons,
Social Cluster Representatives,
Previous Year's top Learners,
Ms Mpumalanga 2012,
Religious leaders.
Our sponsors
Tsb, MTN, Vodacom, Eskom, Sasol, Samsung,
Parents and learners who are listening on various radio stations at home,
Sanibonani and complements of the new season.
I am very thrilled that you all made an effort to be part of this occasion for the announcement of the 2012 Grade 12 results. We value your presence here because it confirms that we are not alone in the quest to improve the delivery of education in our country and province in particular.
We stand before you encouraged by the processes which we embarked on leading to this event. At the occasion of the delivery of the 2010 Grade 12 results we committed ourselves to spend sleepless nights in ensuring the improvement of results and the credibility of the examination processes.
It gives me joy; Programme Director, to inform this August House that we have for the past three years managed incident free and credible Grade 12 examination processes. We want to take this time to express our profound appreciation to all public representatives, managers, officials, structures, the media and civic organisations that supported us in this regard.
As eluded to earlier, we were not alone and credit must indeed go to where it is due. It is my wish that I single out the role played by the leadership and foot soldiers of the South African Police Service and the security cluster in helping the department to ensure a highly secured examination process.
Thank you and thank you very much for the patriotic gestures and dedication displayed in making this process a success. We will always be indebted to your unfailing acts of patriotism.
In her letter to the editor of Mpumalanga News, Sandzisile Mkhonta from Swalala expressed her delight and gratitude on the time delivery of education resources to schools and had the following to say as well.
“As a final year high school learner, I feel proud that at least I’m now looking forward to facing tertiary challenges head on with little or no hassles but being prepared to work hard. It is my greatest wish that this culture should always be kept. Let’s cease putting our province in a bad light by always being associated with all the negatives of this world. I think if all of us can begin to think laterally and positively, this place can be the best place to belong to, if only we do our very best”.
These are good and wise words coming from a young citizen of this province. Our collective view is that we should work hard and rally side by side with all our communities, structures and institutions in order to sustain the gains we have made.
We hold a strong view that our system dictates for a solid foundation at lower levels otherwise our learners’ performance in matric will always be found wanting. In this regard, the Annual National Assessments continues to help us to diagnose the problems at the lower levels.
Whereas there is much improvement in grades 3 and 6 in Numeracy and Literacy, we are not satisfied since the province did not reach its set target of 49%. Grade 9 learners wrote the ANA for the first time last year and the outcome in Mathematics left much to be desired.
Grade 3 performance in Languages has improved from an average score of 17% in 2011 to 48% in 2012 and in Mathematics from 19% in 2011 to 36% in 2012.
A grade 6 performance in Languages is standing at 33% for Home Languages and 31% for First Additional Languages. This is an improvement from the 20% of 2011. In Mathematics, the Grade 6 class regressed, scoring 23% against 25% in 2011. Grade 9 performance in Language is standing at 40, 3% for Home Languages and 37,4% for First Additional Languages. In both cases the performance is above the National Average. For Mathematics, Grade 9 learners managed to score an average of 11,9% which is below the National Average.
We have already exposed these results to teacher unions and collectively agreed that we must pull all strings and make education work at these levels. I wish to state that it is going to be business unusual for our primary school teachers this year. Accountability will be the order of the day.
The results which I am about to present follows an intense implementation of intervention programmes which included but were not limited to the following:
Adoption of schools by Members of the Executive Council and Managers in the department. We want to take this time and salute the stewardship of the Honourable Premier, Mr DD Mabuza for the foresight and courage he provides to all of us including members of the Executive Council for a collective ownership of programmes aimed at improving the delivery of education in the province.
We also embarked on:
Constant visits to schools by Curriculum Implementers and officials institutionalising of winter schools, spring schools and special camps for selected schools. Continuous radio lessons and training of teachers in selected fields of study and provisioning of supplementary learning and teaching resources.
Like we said, during the announcement of the 2011 Grade 12 results that it is becoming evident that the intervention programmes are yielding positive results and needed to be intensified going forward.
Announcement of the results
Overall performance
In 2009, Mpumalanga obtained 47.9% in 2010 we were at 56.8% and in 2011 the province was declared the most improved province in the country after obtaining an 8% improvement and recording 64.8% pass rate. The class of 2012 has done us proud. It has registered a 5.2% improvement and the province is currently standing at 70%.
This confirms that out of 47 889 learners who wrote the 2012 Grade 12 examinations 33 504 passed. Of these learners 9 495 qualified for bachelor programmes as against 14 277 for Diplomas, 9 633 for Higher Certificates and 99 achieved the National Senior Certificate in 2012.
With this performance, the province is on course to meet its 2014 target.
District Performance
Last year, Ehlanzeni District was at the top of the four districts with 72.1% and was the only district that performed above the national average. I am happy to indicate that of the four districts in the province, Ehlanzeni has retained this position and is at the top with 74% and again it is higher than the 73.9% national performance.
Bohlabela District in the past years was regarded as the most improved district in the province after it recorded an improvement of 30.6% in three years from 2009 to 2011. The challenge with this District was that it was performing far behind the rest of the districts in the province.
This necessitated a focused programme for Bohlabela District alone, which seems to be yielding the expected results. It gives me pleasure to inform the house that Bohlabela District has in 2012 improved its results by 9.8% and is currently at 62.5%. This means that it has recorded an improvement of 32.6% in the past four years.
I wish to use this opportunity to thank the general community and structures in the Bushbuckridge Municipality for embracing the intervention programmes leading to this positive outcome. The second best performing District is Nkangala at 73% in 2012, which is an improvement from the 67.9% of 2011.
Gert Sibande District is the third performing district at 69% in 2012. This is an improvement of 3.6% from the 65.4% of 2011.
Circuit Performance
Of the 67 circuits in the province, Amsterdam Circuit is at the top having obtained 87.5%. The most improved circuit is Weltevrede within Nkangala District which improved by 24.5% from 53.8% in 2011 to 78.3% in 2012. We have managed to reduce the number of circuits performing below 60% from 24 in 2011 to 9 circuits in 2012.
We must work hard to ensure that there will be no circuit that performs below 60% this year. Circuit Managers will be expected to indicate how they are going to work with stakeholders within their areas of jurisdiction in order to achieve this outcome. We will shortly convene a meeting with Circuit Managers to forge a way forward in this regard.
School Performance
There are 528 schools that wrote the Grade 12 examinations in 2012. The number of schools that obtained 100% has improved from ten in 2009 to 18 in 2012 and this indicates a growth of 5.2% when compared to 2011. It gives me pleasure that schools from quintile 1-3 have managed to enter into this category.
Hoërskool Nelspruit had 203 candidates writing the exams and out of these 169 of them satisfied the requirements for Bachelors programme, 32 for diploma and all the 203 candidates passed. Hoërskool Nelspruit is our overall best school in the province. 83.3% of candidates at Hoërskool Nelspruit obtained bachelor passes and it becomes the school with the most bachelor passes in the province.
In 2011, the most improved school in quintile one was Freddy Sithole Secondary School at 80.7% from 23.7% in 2010 and I am happy to announce that in 2012 it has improved to 100% pass. The most improved school of 2012 is Masilela Secondary School, within Bohlabela District that moved from 30.9% in 2011 to 95.2% in 2012. It had 84 candidates and 80 of them passed.
Highveld Secondary and Ximoyi Khosa within Mashishila and Agincourt circuits respectively have done us proud as quintile 1 schools that scored 98.7% and 98.1% respectively in this year’s results. These schools performed better with fewer resources confirming that it is possible to perform outstandingly with the least we have.
Last year, there were 31 schools that obtained results below 30%. We publicly declared that there must be no school that obtained such results in 2012. In addition to that, a focused programme was implemented to support these schools to come out of this dire situation.
In 2012, only 9 schools obtained results below the 30% pass. The number of schools obtaining results above 60% has improved from 312 in 2011 to 358 in 2012.
Subject Performance
Mathematics and Physical Science
At the occasion of the 2012 Policy and Budget Speech, I stated that the Mpumalanga Department of Education intends to increase the number of learners who take and pass Mathematics and Physical Sciences. Our target was 11 000 learners passing Mathematics convincingly at Grade 12 in 2012.
In 2012, 18 835wrote Mathematics and of this number 8 709 were boys and 10 126 were girls. 16 493 candidates wrote Physical Science and of this number 8 708 were girls, while 7 785 were boys. This shows that more girls than boys are taking Mathematics and Physical Science. It gives me pleasure to announce that 9 998 have passed Mathematics and 10 426 passed Physical Science.
The matter of dwindling numbers in Mathematics, Science and Technology remains a concern to us as this impact negatively on our role of producing the skilled labour force so required by our economy. We urge parents and schools to continue encouraging and supporting learners to choose to study these subjects.
We remain committed to delivering on this national mandate. This year we are launching two categories of schools passing Mathematics and Physical Science learners at 50% plus. The Club 100 and Club 50 schools are schools that pass 100 or 50 learners at more than 50% for either Mathematics or Physical Science.
We urge schools to start working now to become members of these clubs. We will continue this year to pay close attention to Mathematics and Physical Science intake in our schools. Our targets is to have 30 000 Grade 10 learners taking Mathematics and 17 000 taking Physical Science in 2013. The department has established a Maths, Science and Technology Directorate to accelerate all efforts aimed at achieving the goals stated above.
Performance of Municipalities
In 2011, Nkomazi Municipality topped all the 18 Municipalities. I am happy to indicate that hence forth there will be a standing award for the best municipality at this occasion. The best municipality in 2012 is Nkomazi with 77.5 %.
I take this time to request the leadership of all municipalities and traditional institutions to make it their obligation to support schools and ensure that schooling progresses without disturbances within their areas of influence.
Learner performance
Programme Director, I am happy to announce to this house that the overall best leaner in the province is Mawere Calvin S from Bushbuckridge Secondary School in Maviljan Circuit, Bohlabela District. He has obtained Eight (8) distinctions in the following subjects: Sepedi Home Language, English First Additional Language, Agricultural Sciences, Accounting, Physical Science, Life Sciences, Mathematics and Life Orientation.
Let us congratulate Calvin for this sterling achievement. I also take this time and request this house to join me as we congratulate the Grade 12 class of 2012 for making us proud. Siyabonga Bantfwabetfu.
Projections for 2013
All schools which have obtained results below 50% will henceforth be categorized as dysfunctional schools. I want to take this opportunity and publicly declare that in 2013 there must be no school in the province that will receive results below the 50% mark.
We are serious about this and should this happen heads will roll just as the same will be applicable to those who obtained results below 30% for the second time. We reiterate our position that a school is as good as its principal, as such principals will always be held to account for the results of their respective schools.
Thank educators
As Mpumalanga Department of Education, we are mindful that had it not been the hard work of teachers who sacrifice their time and effort, we would not been as jubilant as we are today. We lack words to express our profound appreciation to all teachers who worked hard for the realisation of these pleasant outcomes. Siyabonga kakhulu kubothisa bethu.
Improvement plans for 2013
To ensure that time is not wasted, the Department has already developed the improvement plan for 2013. This plan has already been presented and endorsed by our stakeholders. This plan details the programmes towards the improvement of Languages and Mathematics in the GET Band and focused programmes for improving outcomes at Grade 12 level ensuring that the commitment made for 2014 are realised.
Districts, Circuits and schools should take their cue from this plan to develop their plans before the end of January 2013 and to share these plans with the QLTC Structures at the appropriate levels. This year, the department and schools must work around the clock to ensure an increase in the number of learners who obtain bachelor passes since these will be expected to be the first to enrol at the University of Mpumalanga by 2014.
Support to Students
To those who passed
The Province will issue bursaries to qualifying learners who have applied on time and received admission letters from their universities of choice. These will be confirmed after the 9th of January and upon receipt of statements of results.
The unfortunate part is that not all who applied will get the bursaries since we are informed by the financial resources at our disposal. Similarly, those that have been admitted to pursue the teacher education programme at the Siyabuswa Campus will receive notifications on their admission and registration date. Applications for this programme have already been closed and no walk in will be allowed.
We are also working around the clock to address challenges that our bursars experience in different institutions of higher learning.I will be meeting all provincial bursary holders from 09 to 11 January 2013 to take that process through. At the same time, I want to take this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation to all institutions that support students during their study period.
Eskom has made a commitment to support all deserving students who have applied for Engineering and Commerce studies. Last year they funded 116 students. This gesture is worth appreciating.
To those who failed
We are also mindful that there are 14 358 learners who could not make it this time around. I request parents and communities to support them as well and encourage them to learn from their mistakes and be given a second chance. The department has a team of officials who are readily available to offer counseling service to these learners should there be a need.
This service can be accessed by contacting the departmental toll free line 0800 203 116 during office hours. All learners who failed for the first time must be readmitted to schools and I urge schools to develop programmes to support learners who will write supplementary examinations which are due to start on February 2013.
Applications for these supplementary examinations will close on 21 January 2013.
Conclusion
At the occasion of the Mangaung Elective Conference, the ruling party in Government made a commitment to work side by side with all South Africans to address the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality and had this to say:
“Responding to these challenges, we are boldly entering the second phase of the transition from apartheid colonialism to a national democratic society. This phase will be characterised by decisive action to effect economic transformation and democratic consolidation Consequently, in pursuance of these objectives, we embraced Vision 2030 and the National Development Plan as a platform for united action by all South Africans to eradicate poverty, create full employment and reduce inequality as critical building blocks towards a truly united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society.
We recognise that these efforts cannot bear fruit if carried out by government and the ANC alone. We therefore commit ourselves to build strong partnerships with community organisations and social movements, trade unions, religious bodies, business organisations, women and youth structures as well as other organisations to ensure that, in actual practice, South –black and white –act as their own liberators”.
I wish to reiterate this commitment and pledge that the leadership of the Department of Education will do everything in their ability to make sure that we progressively engage with all our stakeholders for the betterment of our education system.
I also wish to remind the house of what the Honourable Premier, Mr DD Mabuza said at the occasion of the delivery of the State of the Province Address on 24 February 2012.
“Our development, prosperity and the realisation of our vision for a better society depends on our ability to provide access to quality education. Education remains one of the critical levers to reverse the cycle of intergenerational poverty and growing inequalities in our society.
Our leadership success must be measured in how our education system creates an environment for children from poor households on the farms, and those in rural areas and townships to imagine and realise endless possibilities for a better life, free from poverty and social deprivation."
On this note, I invite all the people of our province to rally side by side with the department and schools in their community to support their efforts as we together move towards the realisation of goals we have set to improve the delivery of education in the province.
Our target for 2013 will be to better this performance by 10%. I take this time to wish you a prosperous new year.
Sisonke Sifundzisa Sive.
Ngiyabonga!
