Pretoria- Matric learners in Gauteng have achieved the highest pass rate for the 2012 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, with 83.9% of the provinces' matrics having passed. This is an improvement of 2.8% from 2011's 81.1%.
This was announced by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga on Wednesday at the official announcement of the 2012 NSC exam results.
"Provincial Education Departments have worked very hard from the beginning of 2012.
Key interventions focused on improving performance in Mathematics, Physical Science, Accounting, Life Sciences and Geography in particular and supporting underperforming schools and their principals. These initiatives have reaped observable dividends," said the Minister.
The Eastern Cape achieved 61.6% in 2012 up from 58.1% in 2011, an increase of 3.5%.
Limpopo achieved 66.9%, up from 63.9% of 2011, an improvement of 3.0%.
Mpumalanga achieved 70%, up from 64.8% and an improvement of 5.2%.
KwaZulu-Natal achieved 73.1%, an improvement from 68.1% in 2011, an increase of 5.0%.
The Northern Cape achieved 74.6%, up from 68.8% in 2011, representing the largest improvement by a province, of 5.9%.
The North West achieved 79.5%, up from 77.8%, an improvement of 1.7%.
The Free State achieved 81.1%, up from 75.7%, an improvement of 5.4%. This was the second largest improvement by a province.
The Western Cape achieved 82.8%, down from 82.9% in 2011, a decline of 0.1%.
Regarding district performance, the minister announced that 52 reached 70% and above, compared to 45 districts in 2011.
"Of the 81 districts in the country, 71 performed at 60% and above passes, seven were between 50% and 59%. Only three districts were below 49%," said the Minister.
The 10 districts performing below 60% are in the Eastern Cape. The three poorest performing Districts are Fort Beaufort (improved by 2.9% to 44.7%), Mt Frere (improved by 4.9% to 49.6%) and Qumbu (which declined from 59.4% to 49.1%)
The other seven poorly performing districts are Butterworth (improved from 46% to 53.9%), Dutywa (0.2% improvement), King Williams Town, Libode (improved from 39.1% to 59.4%), Lusikisiki (improved by 1% to 59.4%), Mbizana (improved from 54.9% to 57.6%) and Sterkspruit (from 48.8% to 56.1%).
"We congratulate Obonjeni in KwaZulu-Natal, Waterberg in Limpopo, Bohlabela in Mpumalanga, John Taolo Gaetsewe in the Northern Cape and Queenstown in the Eastern Cape for achieving 60% and above passes in 2012. We will redouble our efforts in those districts showing poorest performance.
"Improvements in Bohlabela and other districts show our interventions were successful," she said. -SAnews.gov.za
