An investigation by the Sunday Times finds that the 2015 matric pass rate of 70.7% was actually as low as 60%, as 70, 000 additional pupils should have failed.<\/p>\n
The Sunday paper reported that Department of Basic Education wants to investigate how matric exam marks were \u201cstandardised\u201d in 2015, after marks were adjusted upwards in 30 subjects.<\/p>\n
This meant that as many as 70,000 pupils passed grade 12 when they should have failed, the report said.<\/p>\n
Department figures showed that 644,536 full-time candidates wrote in 2015, with 455,825 passing after the adjustments were made. However, only 386,722 students should have passed representing an unadjusted pass rate of 60%, the Sunday Times said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn December, Umalusi confirmed that 30 of the 59 subjects had been adjusted upwards in accordance with standardisation practices,\u201d stated the Sunday Times.<\/p>\n
This means that marks were adjusted to \u201ccounter imbalances in the education system\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, after at first approving the unprecedented upwards shunting of marks, the Department of Basic Education is now calling for a probe.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Sunday Times reported that Education Ministers are scheduled to meet next week to deal with the mark adjustments.<\/p>\n
The full report is available in the Sunday Times of 6 March 2016.<\/em><\/p>\n SA education a \u2018national catastrophe\u2019: report<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n New education system on the cards for SA: report<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on education in SA<\/h3>\n