Matric results ‘will be dismal’
2010-08-29 13:00
South Africa can expect a dismal matric performance if statistics from 2007 – the last time a major strike hit schools – are anything to go by.
The 2007 data indicate that 109 schools scored zero, 125 scored below 10% and 550 were below 30%.
Then in 2008 and last year, when there were no major strikes, 29 schools scored zero, 149 and 121 schools scored below 10%, respectively, and 1 094 and 1 018 scored below 30%, respectively.
The strike is currently 11 working days shy of equalling the 2007 21-day strike, and six provinces have already confirmed the postponement of trial exams.
And while the country’s 562 473 matric pupils hold their breath, the Department of Basic Education says matric exam dates will not be moved.
Spokesperson Granville Whittle said the exams were initially moved from the beginning to the end of October to give learners and teachers an extra month to prepare.
He said only Western Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo had not mentioned postponing the trial exams.
“We have already lost 10 school days as a result of the strike. Western Cape is proceeding with trial exams as planned.
“These schools administer the exams on their own as the province has a decentralised system.”
Whittle says the department is confident that the matrics will do well because provincial departments are doing everything possible to ensure they are well-prepared to sit for the final exam.
“Various intervention strategies have been initiated by the department and provinces.”
He says the examination will go smoothly through these interventions and the candidates will pass.
However, education specialist Graeme Bloch expects this year’s matric results to be extremely bad.
“The strike will seriously impact on the outcome because the learners are not well-prepared, they are not in the mood, and teachers are not supportive.”