THE anxious wait for the matric results is over.
Yesterday Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga announced the 2016 matric results at Vodacom World in Midrand.
The matric pass rate for the 2016 is 76,2% but 72,5% if condoned matrics are added.
Motshekga said 2016 was the largest class to have registered for matric exams in the last nine years. Contributing to this large number is the progression of failed grade 11 to grade 12.
Last year condoned matrics numbered 108 000.
Motshekga said these pupils didn’t bring the pass rate down as predicted by some critics.
“The pass rate has instead gone up by 2% from last year’s 70,5% with condoned matrics.
“If condoned pupils are not given a chance they will drop out. By promoting them, we keep them in the system.
“Of the progressed learners we managed to get over 3 000 bachelor degree passes. More than 12 000 diplomas and more than 13 000 that were condoned and progressed,” she said.
Motshekga admitted that the foundation phase has to strengthen to prevent the dropout rate.
The minister said the total number of candidates who registered for the November 2016 NSC examinations was 828 020; comprising 674 652 full-time candidates and 153 368 part-time candidates.
“Of these candidates, 610 178 and 107 793 full-time and part-time candidates respectively, wrote the 2016 NSC examinations,” she said.
Free State shocked everyone after it achieved a pass rate of over 92%, dethroning Western Cape with 87,7% and Gauteng with 87%.
They were followed by North West at 86,2%, Northern Cape scored 82,2%, Mpumalanga with 81,3%. The weakest performers were KZN, Limpopo and Eastern Cape with 69,5%, 68,2% and 63,3% respectively.
Delighted Free State MEC for education Tate Makgoe said: “I’m very happy and I’m sure that the people of the Free State are very excited especially the teachers, the subject advisors and the whole community.”