As the tension for the 2023 Matric results grows in South Africa, the nation is keen to see the performance of last year’s class.
With a consistent pass rate above 76% in recent years, reaching 80.1% in 2022, there is an argument emerging about the quality of these results.
The current pass criteria for a matric certificate includes scoring at least 40% in three subjects, including the home language, and 30% in four others, with allowance for narrowly failing one subject.
This has caused debate on whether these standards prioritise quantity over quality.
Education expert Professor Brahm Fleisch views the pass rate as a significant, though not complete, indicator of educational performance.
He suggests a closer look at the number of students achieving certificate passes and bachelor passes to get a clearer picture of educational success, pointing out that a high number of schools achieve a 90% pass rate, but few students qualify for higher education.
In 2022, less than half of the matriculants achieved bachelor passes (45.9%), with 26.7% obtaining diploma passes and 14.9% passing with a Higher Certificate.
A bachelors pass qualifies the student for provisional entrance into any university or degree course while a diploma pass qualifies the student for provisional entrance into a technical university or diploma course. A certificate pass allows for provisional entrance into any college or certificate course.
While there are calls to reconsider the pass requirements, Fleisch believes that adjusting the standards may not be the solution. Instead, he suggests reviewing how quality issues in education are addressed, The Citizen reported.
Fleisch warns against depending solely on the education system to resolve challenges and recommends a more subtle approach to improving both the quantity and quality of South Africa’s educational outcomes.
Compiled by staff writer
Pictured above: School desks.
Image source: Stock
