SACP Free State Provincial Statement on National Senior Certificate results
5 January 2016
The SACP in the Free State Province welcomes the announced National Senior Certificate results and the technical briefing. The SACP in the province congratulates the class of 2016 for achieving an overall national pass rate of 72.5 percent. In particular, the SACP praises the Free State province for being the leading province in the country with an exceptional achievement of 93.2 percent pass rate, excluding progressed learners. We do note, however, that is important that the whole country progresses simultaneously and the National Senior Certificate results must not be treated as they were a capitalist competition. The SACP in the Free State therefore acknowledges the negative impact caused by the challenges faced by other provinces and the racial disparities in all our provinces.
The SACP acclaim the learners and educators as well as the complementary efforts and contributions of the school governing bodies, trade unions, in particular the South African Democratic Teachers Unions (Sadtu), parents, various volunteers and the political and administrative leadership from the province, including all support staff at all levels.
The consistent good performance by the Department of Education in the Province reflects sterling leadership and sustained commitment in contributing towards the empowerment of the youth with the most potent weapon - education - necessary to wage a struggle we dare not lose against the scourge of inequality, poverty and unemployment.
The SACP in the province wishes all students who will be pursuing their academic; technical and vocational education and training at colleges and universities best of luck and successful studies. We urge children of primarily the poor, working class families to take advantage of the second and last application opportunity for NSFAS financial support provided by the government. Universities' NSFAS application opens between 9 and 20 January 2017 and TVET Colleges opens between 9 January and 14 February 2017.
The SACP in the province is against the commodification of education and reaffirms the policy of the Party for improved access, redress, equity; and a progressive rollout of free, quality higher education and training for the working class and other non-affording strata.
The SACP in Free State urges those who did not manage to pass not to despair. We encourage them to try again or pursue other possible and available opportunities for further academic, technical and vocational training. The SACP will further undertake a more detailed scrutiny of the results per district and the technical report to identify areas and factors that require intensified attention and interventions, working with the various stakeholders to further improve on the quality of learning and teaching.
Issued by SACP Free State Province
Contact:
Phillip Kganyago- Provincial Spokesperson
Mobile: 083 650 1057 or 073 281 5183
Bheke Stofile- Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 071 600 4899
Twitter: @SACPFreeState
Facebook page: SACP Free State (Official)
