Deputy President Paul Mashatile has urged communities to join forces with government to tackle the factors leading to the troubling rate of school dropouts.
“We must work together to identify solutions to tackle teenage pregnancy, alcohol and substance abuse and addiction, financial difficulties, peer pressure, and academic obstacles, which remain predominant factors contributing to children prematurely leaving school,” Deputy President Mashatile said.
Speaking at the annual bursary awards ceremony in Alexandra, Johannesburg on Friday, the Deputy President cited a new report indicating that although South Africa’s matriculation pass rate reached a record high of 87.3% in 2024, the retention rate for learners fell to 64.5%.
This decline, he said, raises serious concerns regarding the issue of school dropouts.
According to the Zero Dropout Campaign’s latest research, despite this improvement and South Africa’s large investment in the Department of Basic Education, about 40% of learners who enrol in Grade 1 will exit the schooling system before finishing matric.
The Deputy President stressed that educating a child is a multifaceted process and everyone should play a role, including families, communities, schools and other various support systems.
The Deputy President was speaking at the Vincent Tshabalala Education Trust Annual Bursary Awards, where he honoured top-achieving learners, as well as their schools and teachers from the Matric Class of 2024.
Deouty President Mashatile is the Chairperson of the Vincent Tshabalala Education Trust and currently serves as its patron.
This non-profit organisation (NPO) has awarded bursaries to numerous learners and university students, many of whom have made significant contributions to the development and growth of the Alexandra community and beyond.
Today, the NPO awarded a total of 611 bursaries, of which 348 went to females and 263 to males, with 61 being awarded last year.
This year, over 52 students will be beneficiaries, thanks to the support of the organisation’s donors and partners.
In addition to bursaries, the organisation has awarded prizes to 810 learners in Grades 10 and 11 for their academic achievements, encouraging them to continue their studies and strive for excellence.
The NPO also hosts career guidance workshops and leadership development programmes.
The programmes have been running for years in honour of the late Vincent Tshabalala, who lost his life in a confrontation with the apartheid police in Alexandra in 1985.
This year marks 40 years since he passed away, a few years before the year South Africa won victory over the apartheid.
“To honour our brother and comrade, a college was built—deservedly, where he took his last breath. This college serves as a memory of Vincent’s journey and as a beacon of hope for the Vincents of this generation.
“Comrade Vincent had a deep appreciation for education and a strong desire to see all young people acquire an education of the highest possible standard. He believed that education is the greatest equaliser.”
He said he believed that the late comrade would have been pleased with the Class of 2024’s performance, which made history with a record-breaking pass rate of 87.3%.
“The continuous improvement in student performance year after year, particularly within Black communities, highlights significant progress in our efforts to dismantle the structures and legacy of apartheid in education.”
The Deputy President committed to his late friend’s vision of providing financial aid to deserving students, ensuring they receive a high-quality education that enables them to realise their full potential. – SAnews.gov.za
