Statement by Cameron Dugmore, MEC for Education in the Western Cape

For the fourth year in a row, the Western Cape has achieved a matric pass rate of more than 80%. The pass in the Senior Certificate examinations for the province in 2004 is 85%.

We congratulate all our matriculants who passed. For those who were not successful, this is not the end of the world. I encourage you to enrol for the supplementary examinations before 18 January 2005. Use every day to improve your skills.

Our results this year shows a slight decrease of 2.1% compared to 2003, we have much to celebrate. All indications are that the quality of our education is steadily improving.

While our matric pass rate of 85% is high, my Ministry is fully aware that our top performers have historically emerged from advantaged communities. These learners have done the Western Cape proud.

Further, we realize that the pass rate fails to reflect the high percentage of learners who drop out due largely through socio-economic factors before they reach matric. Each year 80,000 learners in our province begin Grade 1, but only 40,000 reach matric. This is our greatest challenge.

The number of candidates achieving endorsement, increased from 10,323 last year, to 10,524 this year - an increase of 201 learners.

The number of candidates who passed with Distinction, which is an aggregate of more than 80%, increased from 2,170 to 2,202 - which is an increase of 23 learners.

In 2003 we had 3,938 candidates who passed mathematics on the higher grade. This year we have increased it to 4,268 - an increase of 330 learners.

In 2003, 3,892 Western Cape learners passed physical sciences on the higher grade. This year we have increased it to 3,937, which is an increase of 45 learners.

I am very pleased that 70% of our 386 high schools have recorded a Distinction Pass Rate of more than 80%. Of these, 157 schools have achieved a pass rate of 96% or more.

This confirms that the standard of education in the Western Cape is high, and challenges the notion that only well-resourced schools are capable of delivering quality education.

The schools, which have contributed to the increases in numbers on the quality indicators, represent the entire spectrum of school types - former model C schools, former House of Representatives and former DET.

The number of endorsements from former DET schools has risen from 270 in 2003 to 390 in 2004, and the number of higher-grade maths candidates from 78 to 136.

There is considerable room for improvement, these results reflect steady but significant growth that we aim to achieve over the next five years.

An increasing number of former model C schools have also, via admissions, opened their doors to large numbers of Coloured and African learners, and have continued to achieve outstanding results. These include Sans Souci Girls' High School, which has achieved over 75% endorsement rate over three years.

This school has 46 Coloured matrics, 5 White, 18 African and 12 Indian. The name "Sans Souci" means "without equal". The opportunity the school has given black female learners is indeed worthy of emulation. I also mention the efforts of Settlers and Pinelands High schools in this respect.

In addition, I am proud of the achievements of schools such as Harry Gwala, Hoërskool Robertson, Hoërskool Ladismith, Augsburg Landbou Gimnasium, Groot Brakrivier Hoërskool, Swartberg Sekondêr en Diazville Hoërskool, among others.

We are not only celebrating the achievements of candidates and schools who are receiving awards today, but we are also pay tribute to the principals, the teachers and all our communities, for their contribution towards growing the Western Cape as a Learning Home for All our children.

Our results reflect the commitment of the WCED and our communities to the Premier's call to establish Home for All in this province.

PS:  Candidates can view their Senior Certificate results from 06h00 on Thursday, 30 December, on WCED Online (http://wced.wcape.gov.za)  or  via Cape Gateway  (http://www.capegateway.gov.za/). They can also telephone the WCED's Examinations helpline at (021) 467-2300.

For enquiries, contact Gert Witbooi:  082 550 3938, or gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za.

See also Celebrating the Matrics of 2004 and charting the way forward, a speech by Mr Cameron Dugmore, Western Cape Provincial Minister of Education, Wednesday, 29 December 2004, 09h00, Leeuwenhof.