DA: Matric class must be given every opportunity to succeed

The DA in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has extended its best wishes to the Matric Class of 2023 as they prepare to begin their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations next week.

DA TAKES ITS HAT OFF TO THE TEACHERS

“We also thank those educators in the province who have gone the extra mile to ensure that they have every opportunity to succeed,” said Dr Imran Keeka, MPL, DA KZN spokesperson on education.

ALSO READ: Kholeka Gcaleka: What you need to know about the new Public Protector

Reflecting on the challenges, Keeka said there can be no denying that the past few years have seen a matric cohort that has had to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning.

“Regrettably, KZN’s 193 779 full and part-time learners – that are the class of 2023 – are also the victims of a lingering pandemic of poor leadership, bad infrastructure and no real attempt to involve parents within the education system.”Keeka

ALSO READ: Matric exam dates 2023

SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES TO HINDER MATRIC SUCCESS

He said it is also likely that the BELA (Basic Education Laws Amendment) Bill will be bull-dozed through parliament to further curb the functions and autonomy of school governing bodies and autonomy of schools.

“The 2023 class would also have passed through the hands of teachers who fall abominably short of maths and science skills as revealed in the recent Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Education Research,” he said.
Report which shows that;

• 80% of Grade 6 mathematics learners were taught by teachers with mathematics subject knowledge below the Grade 6 level; and
• Only 55% of South African teachers met the intermediate benchmark of Pirls – which 82% of all Grade 4 learners achieved internationally.

“KZN has the largest Education department in South Africa and there is no indication that this province would not share in this woeful statistic, in the majority.”Keeka

ALSO READ: Matric Exam 2023: No wristwatches will be allowed this year

BEST WISHES CONVEYED DESPITE ENERY PROBLEMS

Despite the many challenges for KZN’s matric learners – which includes a lack of energy via powerlines, Keeka said the DA sincerely hopes that they would have dedicated the necessary personal time and energy to do their best.

“We wish them every success during the weeks ahead and remain committed to playing our oversight role in terms of monitoring the examination, marking and verification process in our province. Our learners must be given every opportunity to succeed,” he concluded.

ALSO READ: Gauteng Education lists high-pressure schools with no more space