Statement by Yousuf Gabru, MEC for Education in the Western Cape

Western Cape matriculants have achieved a 78.6% pass rate in South Africa's first National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

The exams have marked a major milestone for education in South Africa. The exams were also based on the new national curriculum for the first time.

The results show a 2% decline from the matric pass rate of 80.6% in the province in 2007. We do not see this as significant because the results were determined differently.

We have every reason to celebrate. Many of our learners have performed excellently, despite higher demands of the new curriculum and higher pass requirements.

We are especially pleased with results for Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy, which exceed expectations. The number of candidates to qualify for access to higher education has also increased significantly.

We are also pleased that more candidates wrote and passed the exam compared to 2007.

The results show that our preparations over the past six years have borne fruit and that our learners and schools have generally risen to the occasion.

We will study the results carefully to understand trends and will share our findings with schools. Schools that traditionally do well have tended to improve results, while those who do not have continued to struggle.

A total of 43 957 candidates wrote the full exams this year, an increase of 2 035 on the total of 41 922 in 2007. Of these, 34 556 passed, compared to 33 787 last year.

Almost every candidate qualified for access to post-matric education. The new system replaces endorsement or matriculation exemption with qualification for access to bachelors' degree, diploma or certificate studies.

A total of 14 512 candidates (33%) qualified for access to studies for bachelors' degrees, compared to 10 300 (24.6%) who achieved endorsement in 2007.

A total of 12 842 candidates qualified for access to diploma studies and 7 180 for certificates.

Factors explaining the increase in numbers obtaining access to higher education include better informed subject choice and application by the learners concerned.

This year's results have seen a marked increase in the number of candidates achieving subject distinctions. Examples include 126 with seven or more, and 56 with eight or more (83 and 10 in 2007 respectively).

The number of candidates who wrote Mathematics increased from 5 166 who wrote Mathematics Higher Grade in 2007 to 19 957 in 2008.

Of these, 13 003 (65.2%) passed Mathematics in 2008 compared to 3 990 who passed Mathematics Higher Grade in 2007, an increase of 226%.

A total of 24 550 candidates wrote Mathematical Literacy compared to 19 659 who wrote Mathematics Standard Grade in 2007. Of these, 22 406 (91.3%) passed Mathematical Literacy compared to 10 346 who passed Mathematics Standard Grade last year.

This means that a total of 35 409 candidates passed some form of mathematics in 2008 compared 14 336 in 2007, an increase of 147% (21 073 candidates).

Our schools have already achieved our target set for 2010, to ensure that 8 000 matrics pass Mathematics with 50% or more. A total of 8 031 achieved this target in 2008. Of these, 6 110 passed with 60% or more.

The number of candidates who wrote Physical Sciences declined slightly from 13 752 who wrote the subject on the Standard and Higher Grades in 2007 to 13 611. However, the number of passes increased this year from 8 824 to 9 690, a pass rate of 71.2%.

More schools achieved a 100% pass rate this year (105 compared to 73 in 2007), while more schools achieved pass rates of 90% or more (187 compared to 165).

Our main concern is the increase in the number of schools that achieved pass rates of less than 60%, from 57 in 2007 to 75. Factors include higher pass requirements, but the results show that we still have a long way to go to ensure access to success in all schools.

At the same time, we celebrate schools in poor communities that have demonstrated that they can improve results significantly by getting the basics right and by working hard.

Candidates could previously pass some subjects with 25%. They must now pass at least three subjects with 30% and another three with 40%, including their home language, and excluding Life Orientation. Pass requirements are now more onerous, so we are pleased that more candidates have written and passed matric.

In some respects, the 2008 results reflect work in progress, while showing signs of significant success, especially in Mathematics. We will build on this success in 2009.