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 The following Media Statement is reproduced from the National Department of Education's website at http://www.education.gov.za

The 2007 senior certificate examination results: the numbers

28 December 2007

The Minister of Education, Naledi Pandor MP, has approved the release of the 2007 senior certificate examination results.

The Minister said:

"While the 2007 pass rate is positive in some respects, it is still negative in a number of our key performance criteria. While we should celebrate the successes, our primary response must be to assert that we will continue to give emphasis to the implementation of  effective strategies that will support increased success at  all levels of schooling."

Pass rate declines

The number of learners passing Grade 12 rose from 272,488 in 1998 to 368,217 in 2007.

However, the pass rate has declined each year since 2004; in 2007 the pass rate was 65.2%.

Year

Wrote

Passed

%

1998

552,384

272,488

49.3%

1999

511,159

249,831

48.9%

2000

489,941

283,294

57.8%

2001

449,371

277,206

61.7%

2002

443,824

305,774

68.9%

2003

440,267

322,492

73.2%

2004

467,985

330,717

70.7%

2005

508,363

347,184

68.3%

2006

528,525

351,503

66.5%

2007

564,775

368,217

65.2%

Western Cape and Gauteng continue to be the two top provinces with pass rates of 80.6% and 74.6% respectively in 2007.

Eastern Cape and Limpopo continue to be the two bottom provinces, with pass rates of 57,1% and 58% respectively.

Province

Year

Wrote

Passed

%

Eastern Cape

2006

69,561

41,268

59.3%

 

2007

69,158

39,358

56.9%

Free State

2006

29,884

21,582

72.2%

 

2007

30,559

21,522

70.4%

Gauteng

2006

73,216

57,355

78.3%

 

2007

84,822

63,287

74.6%

Kwazulu-Natal

2006

125,777

82,460

65.6%

 

2007

148,093

94,421

63.8%

Limpopo

2006

105,775

58,850

55.6%

 

2007

96,490

55,850

57.9%

Mpumulanga

2006

39,040

25,479

65.3%

 

2007

51,787

31,449

60.7%

North West

2006

37,953

25,440

67.0%

 

2007

31,786

21,372

67.2%

Northern Cape

2006

7,495

5,753

76.8%

 

2007

10,158

7,141

70.3%

Western Cape

2006

39,824

33,316

83.7%

 

2007

41,922

33,787

80.6%

National

2006

528,525

351,503

66.5%

 

2007

564,775

368,217

65.2%

The number of pupils endorsed for university study remains stable

The endorsement rate has declined from 18.2% in 2004 to 15.1% in 2007.

However, the number of learners able to take advantage of university study has remained consistently above 85,000.

Year

Wrote

Passed

%

2004

467,985

85,117

18.2%

2005

508,363

86,531

17.0%

2006

528,525

85,830

16.2%

2007

564,775

85,454

15.1%

Western Cape and Gauteng continue to be the two top provinces, with endorsement rates of 24.6% and 20.4% respectively.

Eastern Cape and Limpopo continue to be the two bottom provinces with endorsement rates of 9.3% and 11.7% respectively.

Maths remains a challenge

Asgi-SA has focused attention on training skilled personnel in the areas of engineering, science and technology. Learners need maths and science to study further in engineering, science and technology. Traditional universities require a higher grade pass in these subjects.

Higher Grade passes increased from 25 217 in 2006 to 25,415 in 2007 and standard grade from 110 452 in 2006 in 123,813 in 2007.

Science higher grade passes decline

Higher grade science pass numbers in 2007 (28,122) were down on 2006 (29,781), but there was a significant increase from 81,151 in 2006 to 87,485 in 2007 in the number of standard grade passes.

Issued by the Ministry of Education:
Lunga Ngqengelele
Ministerial Spokesperson
012 312 5538
082 566 0446
Ngqengelele.l@doe.gov.za


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