The matric pass rate was released on Thursday and revealed to be a total of 80 percent on a national scale. However, the Democratic Alliance is now sharing contrasting statistics.
While the Department of Education has been celebrating an 80 percent matric pass rate, the Democratic Alliance is now looking at a more realistic figure of the class of 2022 results.
The DA shares the ‘real’ matric pass rate in SA
According to the DA, the dropout rate for matriculants in 2022 stands at 31 percent. Which in essence, means the total amount of matriculants who passed the 2022 academic year is significantly lower than previously shared.
Business Tech reports that the Department of Education does not keep track of the dropout rates of matriculants. The department simultaneously does not track any further education or employment opportunities they may take.
The current matric pass rate in South Africa is as follows:
- Eastern Cape – 51.8
- Free State – 52.6
- Gauteng – 61.1
- Kwa-Zulu Natal – 54.8
- Limpopo – 51.8
- Mpumalanga – 51.0
- North West – 49.2
- Northern Cape – 43.3
- Western Cape – 58.9
Now, the matric pass rates above have been calculated in conjunction with the dropout rates for each province. The dropout rates include those who have not completed grades 10 to 12. It is therefore that statistics of those who would’ve been in matric in 2022. The current national pass rate now stands at an average of 54 percent.
“Every year, the DA calculates the real matric pass rate by bringing into account the number of learners that dropped out and never made it to matric. Some learners opt out of schooling at the end of grade 9 to pursue their education through technical and vocational education and training (TVET), but a large number simply stop their education entirely,”
What is particularly concerning, is the fact that the dropout rates are significantly impacting the unemployment rates in the country. This is in effect staggering the economy as these employed youth would have no form of income and therefore has no sustainability.