A “positive school environment” helped the Free State achieve its five percent matric pass rate increase over 2010, education MEC Tate Makgoe said on Thursday.
“It gives me joy to see the improvement,” he told reporters in Bloemfontein.
The Free State got a matric pass rate of 75.5 percent, compared to 70.6 percent in 2010. Makgoe said the department was especially happy with improvements in township schools.
Forty-five schools got a 100 percent pass rate, five more than in 2010. In 2009 the figure was 38.
Makgoe said the department worked hard for the 2011 matric achievement, with provincial officials sent to battling schools to help teach pupils about three months before final exams started.
He said despite the good results, “hard discussions” would be held in the new year on schooling in some areas. One of these would be the Motheo region (greater Bloemfontein area) which achieved a 74.7 percent matric pass rate, below its 80 percent target.
Rural areas such as Gariep, with 79.5 percent, and Lejweleputswa, with 80 percent, did better.
The province's top performer was Deidre Basson of Eunice High School in Bloemfontein. She got eight distinctions and an average of 94 percent.
Makgoe said the Free State would set itself an 80 percent pass rate target. – Sapa