REMARKS BY THE MEC FOR EDUCATION, SIPHOSEZWE MASANGO, ON THE OCCASION OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MPUMALANGA 2004 GRADE 12 RESULTS, AT EMNOTWENI ARENA - 15 JANUARY 2005


Programme Director, Mr C M Masbaba

The Hon. Premier - Mr TSP Makwetia

The Governor of Maputo Province - Dr. Namitete

Honourable Mayor of Mbofflbela - Cb-. Reginah Mhaule

Members of the Portfolio Committee on Education, Culture, Sport & Recreatiol

Members of the Provincial Examination Board

Delegates from Umalusi

Educator formations

Learner formations

Representatives tor School Governing Bodies

Colleagues in the Department of Education

Members of the Media

Learners present here and at home

Parents present here and at home

Fellow comrades and compatriots

Ladies and gentlemen

Lotjhani, Namaste, Dumelang.
We
are on course to educate the nation!
For most of us, it has been like traveling on 9 long winding road that leads nowhere, since the day when Umalusi decided not to release our Grade 12 Results pending an outcome of an investigation.

Umalusi is a statutory body responsible for quality assurance, propriety and compliance in General and Further Education and Training phase.

In view of the allegations of irregularities at that time, we all know and agree, that the investigation, became a conditio sine qua non for us to release credible results worthy of the paper they are written on.

In its wake the allegation of irregularities subjected our beloved parents and learners to an understandable painful wait and stressful anxiety.

This morning, please, accept our deepest apology for this excruciating inconvenience, in the knowledge that, those who committed these irregularities did not do so on behalf of the majority of the Grade 12 learners of Mpumalanga.

Whilst some did so for selfish ends, others did so, driven by considerations of self- aggrandisement.

Let me, unambiguously, restate the position of Government of which our Premier has just enunciated that, the merciless jaws of law will always be unleashed on those whose despicable conduct threatened the future of our children and tarnished our good name as a Province. Let them be reminded that, the law has a long arm!

There is no way in which we could have announced results tainted with alleged irregularities such as cheating and fraud.

On the 13"" January 2005 Umalusi has after the conclusion of the investigation, certified the matric results which we are announcing this morning. It is indeed pleasing that the results I am about to announce, are credible and free from any shadow of doubt and misgivings.



Umalusi has just released an investigation report which states that the Council has evidence that irregular practices did take place at 10 Examination Centres out of a total of 587 centres. Four other examination centres still need to be investigated. As a result, the results of all 14 centres will be withheld.

According to Umalusi, the results of the other 4 examination centres will be withheld because scripts were not made available to their investigating team on time. This is regrettable, because at no stage did Umalusi indicate to us problems they were experiencing about obtaining the said scripts. Nonetheless, the scripts will be retrieved and sent to Umalusi shortly.

HOW THE CLASS OF 2004 PERFORMED

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to announce the Mpumalanga 2004 Grade 12 results. This year we have obtained a 61,8% pass rate as opposed to last year's 58% pass rate. This is after the results from the 14 centres have been blocked. There is a likelihood for a further increase once the withheld results are released. This means that 3,8% more learners have passed the 2004 matric examination compared to last year.

The total number of learners who obtained matriculation exemption in 2004, is 4 640 out of a total of 37 091. This represents a slight increase from 12,4% of university entrance exemptions obtained in 2003 to 12,5% obtained in 2004.

The number of the learners that obtained School Certificate is 18 273. The number of learners who could not make it is 14 176.

The results confirm that an overwhelming majority of learners were well meaning when they sat for their 2004 matric examinations.



They did not go to write their examinations with an intention to cheat or crib. Congratulations to the Class of 2004 whose sterling performance has made us proud.

What is more exciting about the 2004 pass rate is that Mpumalanga is the most improved Province, having improved by 3,8%. However, we need to guard against complacency because 38,2% of our learners did not succeed. To them we say: akuhlahlwa mbeleko ngakufelwa.

I want to assure the learners, parents and the public of Mpumalanga that I have written to the Minister of Education requesting her to ensure that deserving learners are not unfairly prejudiced as a result of the delay. It therefore gives me pleasure to inform you that she has indeed acted expeditiously on this matter, the Minister has released a statement to this effect.

The Department has also established an Advisory Support Centre whose primary purpose is to assist learners who might experience Admission / Registration problems at institutions of higher learning. The Support Centre can be reached at this toll free number 0800 203 116.

SOME REASONS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR RESULTS
> The consultative meetings and interactions held with a wide range of stakeholders throughout the Province, which activities motivated stakeholders to reclaim their roles in education. This includes Traditional Leaders who previously were not regarded as stakeholders in education.

> Three Education lzindaba were held in the three Regions. These culminated into a Provincial Indaba that was, amongst others, intent on persuading each stakeholder to play a contributory role in the delivery of public quality education. Hence the theme' "Making the Education Enterprise Evervbodv's Business".



> Winter schools and trial (preparatory) examinations, no doubt contributed to this remarkable improvement.

> Discipline in most of our schools has been encouraging. There is a new breed of learner leadership that wants our schools to be centres of excellence.

> The continuous retraining and reskilling of educators on curriculum matters and other programmes.

> The appointment of more Curriculum Implementers (Cl's), which ensured that almost all learning areas are attended to, has helped. The upgrading of some of the Cl's posts has served as a motivation that has seen more CI's working with more dedication and commitment.

EXAMINATION STATISTICS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to share with you how, we as the Department of Education, has performed over the last three years.

1. Number of candidates who wrote:

2002
2003 2004

39 843 39 031 37 091

56% 58% 61,8%

2. Schools that obtained 100% pass rate:

2002
2003 2004

71 25 24



3. Dysfunctional schools that obtained less than 20% pass rate:

2002
2003 2004

14 08 06

3.1% 1.9% 1%

4. Consistent 100% pass over 5 years

Stanwest Secondary School

Sinettemba Secondary School


5. Number of exemptions:

2002 2003 2004
4 301 4 840 4 640

2004: female learners who obtained exemptions: 2162

2004: male learners who obtained exemptions: 2 478 <*

6. Number of exemptions = 4 640

7. Number
of absentees:

2002
2003 2004

1 228 996 1 755

Quite clearly, this comparison of performance over the last three years, shows some steady improvements' and this demands that all of us should work hard collaboratively because the education enterprise is evervbodv's business.



SCHOOLS THAT OBTAINED A 100% PASS, 2004

We have 24 schools that have achieved a 100% pass in 2004, this is the same number that we achieved in 2003. These schools are:

Tegniese Hoerskool Witbank

Lowveld High School

Hoerskool Ermelo

Hoerskool Generaal Hertzog

Hoerskool Standerton

HighveId Park High

Hoerskool Piet Retief

Hoerskool Ben Viljoen

Hoerskool Sybrand van Niekerk


St Thomas College

Mkhephuli Senior Secondary

Stanwest Secondary School

Sophungane Combined School

Thistle Grove Combined School

St Gregory College

Mathews Phosa College

Sinethemba Secondary School

Carolina Combined School

Esibusisweni Combined School

Noah's Ark Private School

Lowveld Academy

Witbank High School

Gekombineerde Skool Hendrina

I beseech you to give them a big round of applause for consistently and tenaciously clinging to success.

Ladies and gentlemen it is now my pleasure to announce the names of learners with outstanding educational achievements drawn from the Class of 2004. A ga le dibata, bana ba rena.



20% UPWARD IMPROVEMENT IN PASS RATE


Azalea Combined School

Mathews Phosa College

Cebisa Secondary School

Sitintile Secondary School

Makuke Secondary School

Tikhontele Secondary School

Lihawu Secondary School

Samora Machel Comprehensive

Leriana Secondary School

Thufane High School

Malebo Secondary School

Mdzabu Secondary School

Ndzundza-Mabhoko Secondary School

Mmashadi Secondary School

Khula-Sakhile Secondary School

Ligugu Secondary School

Pungutjha Secondary School

Moepi Secondary School

Zenzele Secondary School

Hlonipha Secondary School

LakeChrissismeer Combined School

Morelig Combined School

St. Peters Intern Private School

Mbulawa .Secondary School

Mandlethu Secondary School

Bingweni Secondary School

Kgothala Secondary School

Waverly Secondary School

KwaShuku Combined School

Hianganani Secondary School

Sikhwahlane Secondary School

Somsuswa Secondary School

Dibathuto Secondary School


30% UPWARD IMPROVEMENT IN PASS RATE


Rev. S A Nkosi

KwaZamokuhle Secondary School

BeeMaseko Secondary School

Mohlarekoma Secondary School

Mogobosheng Secondary School

Strauss Secondary School

Esibusisweni Combined School



40% UPWARD IMPROVEMENT IN PASS RATE

Mahlenga Secondary School

Manzolwandle Secondary School

Lusushwane High School

Reggie Masuku Secondary School

Bankfontein Combined School

Skhila Secondary School

Mdzili High School

Bhekiswako Secondary School

KaNyamazane Agric. High School

Zinikeleni Secondary School

Dhlomo DhIomo High School

Ntiyi Secondary School


50% UPWARD IMPROVEMENT IN PASS RATE

Masinyane Secondary School

Engabezweni Secondary School

Siyifunile Secondary School


Generous Contribution


At least there are still a few proverbial "Good Samaritans" amongst us. We are delighted to announce that the Source Financial Service Company has committed itself to provide financial assistance to deserving learners in the following manner:

R3 000.00 to the best learner
R2 000.00 to second best learner and
R1.000.00 to the third best learner from the previously disadvantaged communities

>The University of Limpompo indicated that it will provide merit awards to learners and school principals.

> The University of Venda for Science and Technology will also offer scholarships to learners who intend pursuing Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry, Natural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Accounting and Auditing. The details of this will be communicated accordingly.

> The Telkom Foundation has, through the office of the Minister of Education, made an undertaking to make available bursaries to 10 learners from the Province who will be studying Information Technology (IT), Electrical or Electronics Engineering as well as Marketing at any University in South Africa. More information on the bursary, including the selection criteria, terms and conditions
is obtainable from the Communications Section at 0800 203116.

On behalf of all of us, sithi unwele olude, akwande lanithathe khona.

Interested learners who meet the requirements, must please supply the Department with their details at the above-mentioned toll free number by the close of business on Monday, the 17th January 2004.


CONCLUSION

Let me egress a debt of gratitude that we can't repay to the people of Mpumalanga for the understanding and patience demonstrated throughout the investigation. Some of you even sent us words of support and encouragement when other sections of the media were persecuting and prosecuting us in the public domain.

Let me further extend a word of gratitude to my colleagues in the department at all levels, the educators, the parents, the members of the Portfolio Committee on Education, Culture, Sport and Recreations and other partners in education, for the unwavering support they played towards educating the nation.



Ayihlome, Ifunde