Matric success fails to raise prospects for scarce skills

Charles Simkins says lower drop-out rates might emerge from higher maths passes. Image: St Augustine St Augustine

Parliament's basic education portfolio committee heard that further quality improvements in maths and science passes were needed if South Africa were to achieve economic growth and remain economically competitive.

The Human Sciences Research Council previously identified shortages in science‚ technology‚ engineering‚ maths and accounting.

Of the 241‚509 pupils taking maths in 2013‚ 59.1% passed. But only 26.1% achieved the more than 50% in maths required for bachelor degrees in the sciences‚ commerce and engineering. Education analyst Charles Simkins said that the number of pupils who passed maths with more than 50% increased by 23 percentage points compared with 2012.

Simkins‚ vice-president of independent tertiary institution St Augustine College‚ said the results suggested lower drop-out rates at tertiary institutions this year.

Drop-out rates

The drop-out rate in first year university is close to 40%‚ with years of experience showing that school-leavers often lacked problem-solving skills.

The National Employers Association of South Africa also warned about the unsuitability of many matrics for the modern workplace.

Gerhard Papenfus says minimum pass rates must be lifted. Image: Neasa

"The current curriculum does not give priority to vocational training‚ resulting in a situation where the education system fails to supply workers who have basic skills such as reading and writing that employers need for a specific job‚" chief executive Gerhard Papenfus said. "We therefore agree with University of Free State vice-chancellor Jonathan Jansen that the pass rate should be raised to 50% and not the current base of 30% in some subjects and 40% in others‚" he said.

South African Institute of Chartered Accountants Thuthuka bursary fund director Nthato Selebi said the institute would look at the matric results in more depth before commenting on this year's maths and science results‚ but it was clear that South Africa was failing to provide sufficient high-quality passes to begin to make a dent in the skills shortage.

The institute's experience showed that high performance in maths was an important factor in navigating the arduous process of completing the qualification as a chartered accountant‚ he said.

"But even a high-percentage pass in mathematics may not be enough‚ because the third maths paper being optional‚" said Selebi. "That paper includes many of the principles required in further study‚" he added.

Applicability

Maths passes are required to meet the requirements of the job market. Image: tiero Fotolia

While the credibility and difficulty of exam papers has been given the nod by analysts‚ after three separate benchmarking tests by international bodies‚ the Democratic Alliance (DA) called into question the validity of the results‚ saying a full-scale independent audit should take place.

Other opposition parties have also questioned the quality of the education system.

"The labour market requires more from a matric certificate than that and those leaving school are under a wrong impression if they think a matric certificate will ensure a job for them‚" said Freedom Front Plus parliamentary leader Pieter Groenewald. "The disruptive role of teachers' unions in the education crisis should‚ in particular‚ be sorted out."

DA leader Helen Zille said that an audit was required for‚ among others‚ "increases of 7.6% (in Mpumalanga) and 7.7% (in North West) in one year (that) are near impossible to achieve in one school‚ let alone across an entire province".

Provinces were solely responsible for appointing markers and marking exam papers‚ implying the quality of marking cannot be guaranteed and is not adequately or comparatively standardised around the country.

Basic education spokesman Panyaza Lesufi said the DA's call smacked of politicking adding that the minister would‚ however‚ "give an ear" to any genuine concerns expressed by the premier.