Article: Fewer matrics take and pass Mathematics

[phiber]

I have a few questions around the education system, maybe someone here can help.

Pass rate for a subject is now 30%? and if you get over 40% you get university entry? (I just can't believe this, i must be misunderstanding in some way?)

Also are universities allowed to run entrance exams for there courses now?

 

[noxibox]

Pass rate for a subject is now 30%? and if you get over 40% you get university entry? (I just can't believe this, i must be misunderstanding in some way?)

Also are universities allowed to run entrance exams for there courses now?

40% is the minimum for tertiary study. That does not necessarily mean university. And yes, the universities are allowed to have an entrance exam.

30% percent isn't considered passing the subject.

According to the requirements a minimum of 30% in three subjects and 40% in three is sufficient to be promoted to the next grade or granted the senior certificate (for grade 12s), so 30% is considered passing.

 

[phoneJunky]

According to the requirements a minimum of 30% in three subjects and 40% in three is sufficient to be promoted to the next grade or granted the senior certificate (for grade 12s), so 30% is considered passing.

That is to pass the grade, not the subject. When I was matric it was also possible to pass the grade by having that marks. Lets say I got 30 for math bio and physical science and 40 for english first language, afrikaans eerste taal and accounting all higher grade I would have gotten the minimum of 840 to pass matric. Although here a second language would count the same as a first language, but to pass the subject would still require you to have more than 40%

 

[Voicy]

Hee hee. Well, I've never taken an extra lesson in my life, I think it insults my character and intelligence

It's unfortunate that you think that way. When I was still in school most of the top students took extra maths classes. Not to cope, but to excel.

 

[Palimino]

IMO high school maths is all that is necessary for the majority of career roles (engineering etc.) unless you are planning to become a physicist or mathematician. Spreadsheet manipulation, math concepts and methods of reducing mathematical formulas to their (unwieldy) but simplified basics to take advantage of the basic arithmetic functions available in software, is all that is necessary.

In my further opinion the maths requirement is a **selection instrument** for many professions. Medical training requires this and they use less maths than an engineer. What it indicates is that the candidate (because they completed the math requirements [and it’s difficult]) is of a sufficiently high standard to tackle medical training. It also indicates that they are grounded in scientific concepts (maths is scientific, so is medical training). This is true for many professions (vets, accountants, etc.). The maths requirements for the profession are taught within the profession. The importance of maths to a profession is a continuum (a sliding scale). The mechanics of high school maths is more important to an accountant than a doctor, for example. Even in the accountants’ case, high school maths would only identify classes of problem and indicate a propensity for numbers in the candidate.

Think selection criteria, not pre-requisite skills.

 

[scotty777]

It's unfortunate that you think that way. When I was still in school most of the top students took extra maths classes. Not to cope, but to excel.

ha ha, I dunno, I like the idea of pushing myself to achieve goals and know that it was me, and only me that got those marks .

In any case, I think I excel when I put my mind to it . Albeit, my uni marks aren't amazing, they still a decent pass .

Besides, Who cares about doing really well anyway? I see there to be no reason at all to get amazing marks throughout your school career, who gives a literal crap about you getting A's in grade 5 . I just set goals, and work towards them. I needed to get enough points to get into Engineering, and I got there . I need to do well to get a nice bursary now . Goals man! Goals . (however, I don't think my attitude towards work will get me in the news though )