SACP lauds education for improved results

THE South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Eastern Cape welcomes the outcomes of the 2013 matric exams. Our province has moved from 61.4% in 2012 to a 64.9% pass rate in 2013.

It is in this context we welcome the outcomes of this academic year as they build on the positive improvement of 2012 – the first time the Eastern Cape achieved above 60% since the dawn of democracy.

It is in this context that we would like to congratulate the Department of Education and all relevant stakeholders who took greater responsibility in ensuring the improvement we are now seeing.

We appreciate the leadership of Honourable Mandla Makupula, MEC of education in the Eastern Cape, working with all the stakeholders.

Under his political leadership we have not seen disruption of schools throughout the academic year. May the MEC continue with the good work he has been doing, ensuring relative stability and that communities understand the role they ought to play.

We would like to commend the role played by both teachers and parents throughout the academic year. The commitment shown by the teachers through this and the previous academic year is a plausible one as they continue to combat the conditions some serve under to mould leaders of tomorrow; for putting the interests of the working class child to the front.

It is imperative we do not chase numbers and percentages but our primary focus should be on the quality of the output. The Eastern Cape, in terms of ranking with regard to the matric pass rate, is last. However, the province registers more matric pupils than any other province.

The issue of teacher shortages also needs to be finalised.

We would like to congratulate all the pupils who sat for the 2013 exams, and in particular those who passed. You have made us proud, may you have a brighter future, be patriots and use your educational achievements to develop your country and in particular the communities you come from. Let us be inspired by the legacy of Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela to build a caring and responsible nation.

To all those who due to many factors have stumbled, do not despair, and make use of all available opportunities. We urge parents and families to support them and the department to ensure they receive all the support available to them.