Matric results to be announced on 2 January

Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Minister in The Presidency: Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation as well as Administration, Collins Chabane, briefed media in Pretoria on Thursday on Cabinet's ordinary meeting this week.

"While Cabinet would not like to speculate on the outcomes, we hope our matrics, despite the challenges they are facing, are going to make an improvement and make it. We have competent young people out there who are determined to pass and make an impact ... in the country," said Chabane.

Cabinet congratulated the Department of Basic Education, principals, teachers, parents, guardians and learners for their dedication and commitment to the matric exam process.

"We are confident that the learners throughout the country were determined throughout the year to make sure that they succeed. Government and its partners have been working hard to ensure that our matric learners pass."

He said those who do not pass should not "think they are not worth it". He urged them to make use of the various schemes in pace to assist them in achieving their matric.

Chabane said government had taken steps to ensure that the Department of Basic Education functions properly and that where there were challenges such as in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo interventions were made.

He said while the challenges were likely to affect the results in those specific areas, it was not the overall picture.

Cabinet also noted the Annual National Assessments results which were released on Monday.

The results revealed and improvement in the Grade 3 and 6 learner performance with regard to literacy and numeracy.

Chabane said the assessments had been introduced last year and that the approach was to track the improvements being made.

"After these results we know where the problems are and we will be able to put in place an improvement plan. We hope that next year will be much better than the current one. That is in line with our priority of a better education," said the minister.

Chabane said Cabinet was confident that the steps being taken to improve education, especially in the lower and entry level grades.