Matric Results 2012

07 January 2013

Cope believes the education percentage mark is not a very good way of measuring the state of education. Still we believe it gives a reasonable indication of the state of the country's basic education.

We note with disappointment the Western Cape being knocked off the top spot in matric pass rates by Gauteng. We are comforted by the fact that although it lost on quantity, judging by the number of its bachelor's entrance, the Western Cape still leads on the quality of education in the country.

Cope, throughout the year, warned the MEC of Education, Donald Grant, that the education status in regions like Karoo, other rural and township areas was still dire and required urgent interventions. Regrettably the MEC has so far proven hard of hearing and the champion of stonewalling in the DA executive. These areas have proven to be the major reason behind the Western Cape regression on the number of its matric passes.

Gauteng's overtaking the Western Cape has disproved wrong once and for all the nonsense the Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille, reference to 'refugees' from Eastern Cape as being the cause for other Province's failure to meet up with the infrastructural demands of their provinces. If this was the case Gauteng, where most South Africans, in particular those from the Eastern Cape, go to seek better economic conditions would suffer worst consequences. Gauteng is proving that as long adequate planning and fair distribution resources is done much can be achieved.

Cope calls upon all Western Cape political parties to stop deliberately mischaracterizing on partisan grounds serious issues like Education for political games. Cope also cautions the country at large from celebrating mediocrity in concentrating only on education pass percentages. We also urge all those involved in the education of children, especially teachers, to assume their duties with the spirit of vocational challenge. We urge government, national, provincial and local, to change the basic social compact of our country so as to give every child a fair chance of getting quality education.

Statement issued by Mbulelo Ncedana, Cope Parliamentary Leader at Western Cape Provincial Parliament, January 7 2012

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