Matric results riddle

Vox Populi Vox Dei

Vox Populi Vox Dei

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Source: News 24

Johannesburg - Concerns over the validity of the matric results continue to mount amid quality assurance body Umalusi’s *refusal to explain how marks were *adjusted.

In a major public rebuke, respected academic and Umalusi standardisation committee member Professor John Aitchison told City Press it was “appalling” that the body was *secretive about the *subjects that were *adjusted.

The dramatic improvement in the matric pass rate (7.2 percentage points) has come as a surprise to many.

Despite desperate attempts by the basic education department to quell fears, the following key questions *remain unanswered:

» What caused the steep decrease in the number of full-time candidates, coupled with a significant increase in that of part-time matrics? and;

» Why was there a sudden big *improvement in pass rates of popular subjects? (see sidebar)

Umalusi has refused to make public the 19 subjects that had marks adjusted upwards or downwards and the 39 whose raw marks were *accepted – a decision Aitchison called “appalling”.

He added: “All useful information about the matric exams should be in the public domain because we need it to make correct evaluations of the exam system.

And this information will in no way compromise the exam results.”

Yesterday (Saturday), Western Cape Premier Helen Zille said: “It is of critical *importance to preserve the credibility of the matric certificate. If there are questions, they should be asked, *investigated fully and answered.”

On Friday, Umalusi issued a statement saying the standardisation process was confidential – without *referring to the relevant legislation.

Umalusi chief executive Dr Mafu Rakometsi said that withholding the *information was in the “best interest of *individual learners and the entire *education system”.

Rakometsi said on Friday the adjustment process happened behind closed doors because it was “highly complex, technical and qualitative”.

However, according to an Umalusi insider, the real reasons for the non-disclosure were:

» Universities might scoff at the learners’ marks (symbols) as not *being a true reflection of their actual academic abilities;

» Learners could lose bursaries;

» It could negatively affect those *intending to study abroad; and

» Adjustments were not done across the board and best-performing *learners whose marks were *untouched could be prejudiced.

According to City Press’s source, Umalusi is considering calling a council meeting this week to deal with the “unprecedented” situation.

Questions sent to Umalusi on Friday were not answered.

Full-time candidates

The number of full-time candidates last year was much lower than in 2009 – something for which the basic education department has no *explanation at this stage.

Last year 537 543 matrics wrote the *prescribed seven subjects, 14 530 fewer than 2009’s 552 073 full-time candidates.

In contrast, the national number of part-time candidates more than doubled – from 39 255 in 2009 to 82 835 last year.

These figures have led to claims that schools were weeding out weaker learners, forcing them to become part-timers to ensure a good pass rate.

Department spokesperson Granville Whittle said the dramatic increase in the number of part-timers should be viewed against the effect of a backlog caused by a curriculum change in 2008, which caused a sharp drop in part-timers to 1 116.

He said it was difficult to explain why there were fewer full-time candidates last year.

Behind the numbers

A steep improvement in the pass rate for physical science was recorded last year.

Some 47.8% of the more than 205 000 learners who took this *subject passed with a mark of 30% or higher.

In 2009, the pass rate for the subject was 36.8%.

In the case of another popular *subject, life sciences, just short of 75% of learners passed – a jump of 9.1 *percentage points.

In maths literacy, 86% passed – an increase of 11.3 percentage points.

- City Press
Click to expand...
 
And that folks, is why universities will eventually base their intake only on benchmarking tests set by them.
 
A steep improvement in the pass rate for physical science was recorded last year.

Some 47.8% of the more than 205 000 learners who took this *subject passed with a mark of 30% or higher.
Click to expand...

So that means that 52.2% of the lennas got less than 30%. And they are crowing about this? When I was at school, anything below 75% was considered "barely adequate" - and below 65% was a fail.
 
TheREV said:
So that means that 52.2% of the lennas got less than 30%. And they are crowing about this? When I was at school, anything below 75% was considered "barely adequate" - and below 65% was a fail.
Click to expand...

Only 41% of the 1.3 Million learners who entered the school system actually got to the exam, and that at the end of the day only 28% passed (after much fudging). The terrifying statistic is that system produces nearly a million failures (72%).

The ANCLY cannot absorb all these children into positions of leadership. Luthuli house is in severe danger of imploding under the weight of stupid as it is.

These children have little hope of entering South Africa's formal economic sector, let alone accessing international sector, at most they can hope to become manual labourers.

How is this better than Bantu education?
 
alloytoo said:
These children have little hope of entering South Africa's formal economic sector, let alone accessing international sector, at most they can hope to become manual labourers.
Click to expand...

ah. but you forget our largest and most benevolent catchall employer... the state, kindly sponsored by the taxpayer.
 
murraybiscuit said:
i don't understand. it's just logically closing the loop.
some people won't have a problem finding a job.
Click to expand...

No, how would it be logical continuing a stupid system?

Firstly, if they push kids through uni, in particular black kids, then it's obvious that these guys won't be as qualified as their whiter comrades. This is continue the laziness that is already prevalent. Also, people won't want to hire sub-par graduates, and would either outsource from other countries or hire qualified whites.

I really do think that this country needs to over haul the education system.
 
scotty777 said:
No, how would it be logical continuing a stupid system?

Firstly, if they push kids through uni, in particular black kids, then it's obvious that these guys won't be as qualified as their whiter comrades. This is continue the laziness that is already prevalent. Also, people won't want to hire sub-par graduates, and would either outsource from other countries or hire qualified whites.

I really do think that this country needs to over haul the education system.
Click to expand...

Does the ANC really want an educated populace?
 
a retarded system breeds retards....

couple that to the "i dont need to work" attitude which of course just trickles down from above

all in all a royal f up and things are gonna fall apart eventually
 
The ANC's liberation before education has become sub-standard education with 'adjustments' after liberation.
 
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