Time for EC to take stock

MUCH will be said over the next few weeks about education in the Eastern Cape.

Once again, the province has the doubtful honour of being the worst performing in terms of matric results in the country, with the pass rate dropping to 56.8% from 65.4%.

Various factors will be mentioned and/or blamed – all of them relevant – from the controversial issue of progressed pupils to a shortage of teachers (and, in addition, a lack of knowledgeable teachers) to a lack of transport to a lack of dedicated pupils.

The fact that the bulk of matriculants come from the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal (54%) also means that these three underperforming provinces had a major impact on the national results and the resultant drop to 70.7% from the 2014 matric pass rate of 75.8%.

The reality remains, however, that while debate rages and everyone offers their five cents’ worth, the silent and suffering victims are the children. Close to half of the Eastern Cape’s matriculants failed. While taking joy in the achievements of your child and others you may know, consider that shocking fact.

Experts have indicated that it will take between three and five years to see an upward trend in the matric results due to changes in the education system. Quite frankly, we don’t have the time. Putting a time frame on ‘fixing matters’ will not make any difference to this year’s matrics, even though some of them may manage to pass via supplementary exams.

While the system churns out children who enter life without a matric certificate, hope of a better tomorrow recedes. Indeed, possession of a matric certificate is not a magic wand which secures employment and/or guarantees success, but it does help as a stepping stone for future endeavours and opens up more opportunities.

As with anything in life, and particularly relevant at the start of a new year, choices abound. Choices come with consequences and so far it seems as if the Eastern Cape has not been making the right ones when it comes to educating the youth.

There is no better time than the present to take a long, serious look at education – from the top official down to the poorest performing matriculant – and to vow that this year will be the last that the Eastern Cape will be the underdog.

Will it happen? I want to believe that it is possible. The alternate scenario is just too depressing to consider.