IEB pass rate improves
THE Independent Examinations Board (IEB) results for the 2021 National Senior Certificate are cause for celebration as the pass rate increased by 0.33% to 98.39%.
A total of 89.2% of the cohort achieved entry to degree study, compared to 88.41% in 2020, and 7.82% qualified for entry to diploma study, compared to 8.14% in 2020.
The remaining 1.37% achieved entry for study at the higher certificate level compared to 1.5% in 2020.
The IEB said 12 857 full-time and 968 part-time candidates sat for the 2021 final exams.
“The class of 2021 has had to dig deep mentally and emotionally to find the strength to face the tremendous challenges of a radically changed teaching and learning environment in the last two years. They truly deserve the accolades they receive,” said Anne Oberholzer, CEO of the IEB.
Meanwhile, Umalusi, the Quality Council in General and Further Education and Training, has approved the release of the 2021 national exam results for state schools. Umalusi said this was based on available evidence that the exams were administered largely in accordance with the exam policies and regulations. The class of 2021 was the eighth Grade 12 cohort to write the final exams under the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS), Umalusi said in a statement.
“Furthermore, the class of 2021 was the first Grade 12 cohort to experience the harsh realities of the pandemic for two consecutive years. Consequently, this class needed more academic support compared to its predecessors.”
The Department of Basic Education will abide by the Pretoria High Court ruling for the Matric 2021 National Senior Certificate results to be published on all media platforms.
This after AfriForum, a civil society group, Anlé Spies, a 2021 matric pupil, and Maroela Media served court papers on, among others, Angie Motshekga, the Minister of Basic Education. This was to oppose the department’s decision not to publish the matric results in the media in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act.
In the urgent application, Spies, who schooled in Pretoria but lives on a farm with her mother in Gqeberha, argued that it was critically important for her to receive her results as quickly as possible as she only had a few days to prepare for university in the Free State.
“There is more than 1 000 kilometres away from the school I attended. I can just imagine the number of matriculants who are in a similar position as me.”
She argued that previous matric results published in newspapers never contained the names of matriculants only the exam number. Spies asked for the same to happen this year.
The department chose not to oppose the urgent application by AfriForum.
The ruling, in favour of the application, states that the publication of results will be the same as in 2020 – with only exam numbers and not the names and surnames of the matriculant.
The NSC results will be released on Thursday.