Only one in two grade 10 pupils reach matric and only one in three pass

Two out of every three grade 10 pupils never go on to pass matric, according to the latest South Africa Survey, to be published by the South African Institute of Race Relations in Johannesburg next week.

Fewer than half of those who enrolled in grade 10 in 2008 sat for the 2010 matric exams. Of the same 2008 cohort, only 34% actually went on to pass matric in 2010, and only a third of those passes were good enough to gain admission to university to study for a bachelor's degree (see graph below).

The Institute's analysis is based on data released by the Department of Basic Education.

Those who have not completed secondary education plus those whose highest qualification is matric account for 81% of all unemployed. Only 6% of the unemployed are people who have completed a tertiary education, according to data published in the Survey.

‘Learner retention is a very serious problem afflicting the South African schooling system', said Mr Jonathan Snyman, a researcher at the Institute. He added that ‘most pupils who drop out before completing high school do so as a result of a lack of funds. Other common reasons that pupils leave school are to look for work or because of family commitments. There is also a common view that being at school is not relevant to their lives'.

Mr Snyman added that ‘the biggest problem is that pupils who drop out of school often never return to finish their education. As many as a third of all 15-24 year-olds are not in employment, education, or training'.

Statement issued by Jonathan Snyman, South African Institute of Race Relations, January 19 2012

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter