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Minister Siviwe Gwarube Defends 2024 Matric Pass Rate Amid DA Criticism

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has distanced herself from her party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), over claims that the “real” 2024 matric pass rate is 55.3% instead of the celebrated 87.3%. Gwarube, who made the official announcement last Monday in Johannesburg, defended the results, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between the pass rate and the throughput rate.
The Class of 2024 achieved an 87.3% pass rate in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams, marking a significant increase from the 82.9% recorded in 2023. This 4.4% improvement has been celebrated as a historic achievement, with many commending the learners, educators, and the education system.
However, the DA has argued that when accounting for learners who dropped out before reaching Grade 12, the true pass rate stands at 55.3%. This perspective has sparked public debate and criticism.
During an interview on SABC’s Face the Nation, Gwarube addressed the DA’s claims and shared her perspective.
“I think that we need to differentiate between a pass rate and throughput rate. A throughput rate is the amount of learners who start Grade R or 1 and finish Grade 12. Of course, the DA, the party that I come from, has always said we have to take a more quantitative look at the matric pass rate and not only obsess about the results,” she said.
Gwarube emphasized that the focus should go beyond the pass percentage to the quality of the passes. Despite the criticism, she believes that the results are up to standard and reflective of progress in South Africa’s education system.
While the DA congratulated the Class of 2024 and Minister Gwarube, their criticism of the “real” pass rate led to accusations of being contradictory. Critics argued that the DA was undermining the achievements of learners and educators while taking credit where it was not due.
Prominent figures and citizens took to social media to challenge the DA, accusing the party of being two-faced.
The 2024 matric pass rate remains South Africa’s highest on record, signaling progress in the education system. Gwarube’s leadership as the first DA-appointed Basic Education Minister has been closely watched, with this milestone marking a significant achievement during her tenure.
Despite ongoing debates, the focus remains on improving the education system and addressing dropout rates to ensure more learners complete their schooling.
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