Bushbuckridge – The Mpumalanga Department of Education on Friday met educators to tackle the underperformance of schools in Bohlabela District.
Schools in this district did not do well during the 2023 Grade 12 National Senior Certificate examination results.
The Bohlabela District’s class of 2023 attained a 69.1% pass rate – a decline of 10% from the 79.3% obtained by the class of 2022.
The three other districts – Nkangala, Ehlanzeni, and Gert Sibande – scored an above 70% pass rate.
As a result of underperforming schools, the overall average pass rate of the province fell to 77% pass.
Mpumalanga province was in 8th place at the national level.
The Mpumalanga education department has a standing directive that no school should obtain a pass rate below 70%.
Schools that score below 70% are regarded as underperforming schools, which have to put in measures to improve.
Addressing school principals from Bushbuckridge and surrounding areas this week, Mpumalanga Education MEC Bonakele Majuba said that had it not been for the Bohlabela District’s declined results, Mpumalanga would have achieved above 80% pass rate and secured a better position at the national level.
MEC Majuba said, among other expectations, principals and teachers needed to put more effort, identify areas for improvement, and develop a concrete plan of action.
“We are gathered here today to address the challenging results of the 2023 Grade 12 National Senior Certificate examination in the district,” MEC MAjuba told the gathering in Bushbuckridge.
“While three districts showcased commendable performance, the results from Bohlabela District fell short by 10%.
“The truth is, had it been that Bohlabela District maintained its previous results, the province would have performed at 87% pass rate.
“The results of the country would have been far better and all of us will be walking tall in every corner of the country.”
He said educators should not be discouraged by the district’s underperformance, but instead remain committed to strengthening the culture of teaching and learning to produce better results.
“My view is that we need to concede that what happened is already a thing of the past,” MEC Majuba said.
“However, we need to draw lessons from what happened and put remedial actions to ensure that next year this time we seek a story of true success.”
