Makupula escapes axe despite failing ANC’s 70% mark

THE ANC in the Eastern Cape will not not be sacking education MEC Mandla Makupula for failing to attain the 70% matric pass rate target set by the governing party in the province.

While ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi confirmed this yesterday, he however said Makupula might not survive a review of all MECs in the province, including mayors.

Ngcukayitobi said they were pleased with the improvement in the matric results of 5.7 percentage points from 2016. The party attributed the improvement on the stability it says Makupula had instilled in the department since taking over the reigns in 2012.

But Ngcukayitobi said the ANC was unhappy that the province remained bottom of the class in comparison to other provinces.

“The ANC appreciates the work done by the department of education under MEC Makupula, all stakeholders, including labour and learners for the 5.7 [percentage points] improvement in the pass rate against the decline by other provinces,” said Ngcukayitobi.

“We are particularly impressed by the improvement of performance by matriculants from O R Tambo district for registering upward numbers in 2017 compared to results of the previous years.”

The party was however scathing about results in the Amathole district, with Amathole East having managed a 56.7% pass rate and Amathole West 53.6%.

Ngcukayitobi said this was largely a result of political instability in the governing party which impacted on governing of the district.

He lambasted the ANC Amathole regional executive committee (REC) for its apathy on education matters in the district, saying they had failed dismally. “Throughout the past academic year there was never a focal plan from the district municipality of Amathole and the ANC REC of the region to respond to the challenges of education nor was there any plan,” said Ngcukayitobi.

“We have to come back to those areas and refocus the structures of the ANC to the fundamental mandate.”

Meanwhile, opposition parties said the results were nothing to celebrate. Yazini Tetyana of the EFF said:“Some of those who have passed passed with 30% will never go to school anywhere unless they improve their results.

Downgrading of the pass rate made government look good but the “system is actually producing criminals. Those who don’t have anything to do might end up as criminals.”

Cope’s Lievie Sharpley said: “The problem is with the department as we still have mud schools, with some schools operating with no furniture.”

The DA‘s Jane Cowley said: “Sluggish infrastructure development, corrupt supply chain management practises and the high teacher-pupil ratio are problems.”

There was also no effective learning and teaching from Grade 1 and some teachers and principals were incompetent. — zingisam@dispatch. co.za / zolilem@tisoblackstar.co.za