AfriForum has taken note of the fact that the matric pass rate improved from 70,2% in 2011 to 73,9% in 2012, however it expressed serious concerns about the number of learners who completed their final school year successfully.
According to Alana Bailey, Deputy CEO of AfriForum, a report of the department of Education published in 2009 indicates that a total of 1 006 358 learners enrolled for Grade 1 the first time in 2001. According to the matriculation results announced, a mere 647 687 enrolled for matric exams in 2012, of whom 73,9% passed. “In other words less than a half of the Grade 1 learners of 2001 completed their school career successfully. What has happened to the other learners and what does the future hold for them?,” Bailey asked. “Matriculants already find it hard to find employment – all the more so for people who left school without a matriculation certificate.”
AfriForum regards the lack of mother language education in South Africa as one of the foremost reasons for the large number of learners who give up on school before completing matric.
Learners’ lack of language, mathematical and science skills are constantly named as some of the most serious problems that the local education system are faced with. Both nationally and internationally it has been proven time and again that learners find it easier to master new concepts and skills in their mother language, after which they will then be able to transfer such knowledge into other languages quite easily. Unfortunately the education authorities do little to make mother language education more readily accessible and to inform parents about the benefits of studying in your mother language. The myth that English education gives children an advantage above learners studying in their mother languages unfortunately is being propagated and the Department of Basic Education forges ahead with court cases in its endeavours to anglicise Afrikaans medium schools. Funding wasted in this manner should rather have been used to create more institutions where excellent education will be made accessible in South African languages.
AfriForum calls on parents to enrol their children in schools where they will be educated in their mother language. Parents are also implored to apply pressure on Government to make such education available for as long as possible, even up to the tertiary level if possible. Where such education already is available, parents should take a firm stand against any effort by Government to curtail it.
“The matric results annually confirm that learners who receive mother language education in general fare better than those who are educated by means of a second or third language,” Bailey added. “It is high time for Government to prioritise mother language education, thereby empowering the youth of South Africa to complete their school and tertiary education careers more successfully.”
