‘Poor education hampers black students’ chances’

THE South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica) has commissioned a comprehensive, independent study to understand why black students are failing competency tests.

This follows their release of the latest Assessment of Professional Competency report.

Saica chief executive Freeman Nomvalo expressed concern on the declining pass rate of African candidates despite the numerous initiatives in this regard.

Managing director at Ntlantsana Accountants and Advisory Services, Simphiwe Ntlantsana said that he believes that the poor performance of black students stems from a lack of confidence that is fed by stereotypes and biases in the industry.

“The report isn’t surprising. Black students fear accounting or see it as a subject that is challenging and they have no confidence that they can excel. It has always been deemed as an elite subject only fit for certain races or people of a certain social status.”

Head of media at the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) Michael Morris said that IRR research had shown repeatedly in recent years that South African education is in a crisis of chronic deficiency.

Morris said that he did not believe students had inherited a fear of accountancy but blamed the schooling system.

“The biggest problems are in state schools serving the poorest, most of whom are black. White pupils are almost four times more likely than black pupils to pass maths in matric with a rate of 50% and above. In 2020, 74.5% of black pupils passed matric compared to 97.8% of white candidates, a difference the CRA report ascribes to ‘the poor quality of teaching and poor facilities, mainly in public schools’.” “Capability and potential have no skin colour. What does matter is the quality of candidates’ education, and their access to opportunities to demonstrate their talents and ambitions.”