4 January 2019
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in Gauteng welcomes the overall improvements in the 2018 National Senior Certificate (matric) examination results and in particular the reclaiming of the top spot by our province.
This outstanding performance by the class of 2018 is a demonstration of the hard work and collaboration of various stakeholders in ensuring that our learners achieve the best possible results.
Particularly, we congratulate the learners themselves for their commitment to excellence and the entire department of education in Gauteng under the capable leadership of MEC Panyaza Lesufi. We are aware that this achievement of 87.9% which represents a 2.8% improvement from the previous year, was not an overnight flash in a pan moment, but a reflection of dedication by critical role players in the province.
Indeed, obtaining 41 000 bachelor passes, a highest percentage of the bachelor pass rate in the country, accompanied by a number of distinctions, manifest the dedication and commitment of MEC Lesufi and the entire department of education.
We are particularly pleased that these figures also reflect a constant improvement in our township schools, a base for the majority of the working class people in Gauteng province. This marks a shift from the persistent unequal education which has contributed to the reproduction of race and class inequalities in our province and beyond.
While these results must be celebrated, we must remain mindful and vigilant to the intractable challenges that continue to confront the working class youth as characterised by the high levels of youth unemployability and inability to access post-schooling opportunities, amongst others. These are some of the logical tasks that we will continue to mobilise our communities against.
We are confident that the revolutionary intervention by our democratic government to ensure that education is not only de-commodified, but is free and compulsory for poor households is beginning to bear fruits.
As we prepare to work with the Young Communist League of SA (YCL-SA) to intensify initiatives such as the Joe Slovo right to learn campaign, we will not lose sight of our campaigns to assist the department of education to scale even bigger heights. These, inter alia, include the fundamental need to transform basic education to enhance anti-patriarchal practices, and campaigns focused at keeping a girl-child in school.
Once more we congratulate all Gauteng stakeholders under the leadership of MEC Lesufi who contributed to these improved results.
Issued by the SACP Gauteng province
Contact:
Jacob Mamabolo – SACP Gauteng Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 082 884 1868
