Matric 2019: IEB pass rate drops to 98.82%

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls is among a few schools that achieved a 100% pass rate in the Independent Examination Board (IEB) matric results.

According to the school, for the last three years they have achieved a 100% pass rate and a 100% bachelor’s degree pass – which enables their matriculants to study at a university.

The total IEB pass rate for 2019 was 98.82% – slightly lower than 2018’s result of 98.92%.

This announcement came ahead of Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga’s official announcement of the national matric pass rate for public schools later this evening.

The academy’s class of 2019, known as the O’ Caladrius, comprised 59 pupils who passed with a combined total of 197 outstanding achievement distinctions, scoring above 77%.

The school, which is located in Henley-on-Klip in Johannesburg south, admits girls from families whose household total income before deductions is less than R10 000 a month.

“Congratulations to our stellar O’ Caladrius on their brilliant academic achievements. We have watched these bright, powerful and resilient young women confidently tackle their high school careers, and now with this solid academic foundation, I have no doubt that they will become future leaders in their universities, jobs, communities and country,” said Gugu Ndebele, executive director at the school.

St Benedict’s College, an independent school in Bedfordview, also celebrated an impressive set of marks from the class of 2019 with a distinction ratio of almost two per matriculant.

While some exceptional marks were recorded – three St Benedict’s boys achieved averages over 90% and five boys are among the country’s highest achievers.

According to the school, this year marks the 45th consecutive year the school has achieved a 100% pass rate.

St Benedict’s headmaster Dave Jeffrey said the class of 2019 had performed admirably in matric exams.

“While we acknowledge the excellent results of our top achievers, I believe that our greatest success is the 100% pass rate and the high proportion of boys who achieved a bachelor degree pass – 96.85%. Our strategy at the college has always been one where we invest many hours of extra tuition with each and every student to help him realise his full potential and the net result is every one of our pupils has qualified for tertiary studies.”

“This approach has paid off and we are delighted at how our passionate and dedicated teachers not only educated, but inspired our boys to go beyond the ordinary so as to achieve the very best they were each capable of. Of course, we cannot take away from the hard work and the commitment of our young men in excelling in these final exams and the support they received from their parents,” said Jeffrey.

Anne Oberholzer, IEB chief executive, said matriculants who passed achieved a pass that is good enough to enter tertiary study at one of the three levels:

• 89.51%, compared to 90.65% in 2018, achieved entry to degree study;
• 7.91%, compared to 7.33% in 2018, qualified for entry to diploma study; and
• 1.4%, compared to 0.95% in 2018, achieved entry for study at the higher certificate level.

“11 818 full-time and 779 part-time candidates from 227 examination centres across Southern Africa wrote the IEB National Senior Certificate examinations in October and November 2019. This is an increase from 2018 when there were 11 514 full-time candidates and 858 part-time candidates,” Oberholzer said.

She said Umalusi, the body responsible for matric quality assurance, has monitored all aspects of the 2019 examination process and declared the results to be fair and valid.

“There is a clear realisation among IEB pupils, their parents and teachers that having the knowledge and understanding that lies behind the results on the certificate is far more important and meaningful for success after one’s schooling,” she said.

Msindisi Fengu Journalist | City Press

+27 11 713 9001 Msindisi.Fengu@citypress.co.za Media Park, 69 Kingsway Road, Auckland Park

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