KZN sets bar high for matric pass rate

Durban - The KwaZulu-Natal education department is aiming for a more than 70% matric pass rate in the upcoming final examinations, Education MEC Senzo Mchunu said on Wednesday. "We are determined and hopeful that the 2011 class of matric will achieve beyond the expectations and surpass the 2010 pass percentage of 70.7%," he told reporters in Durban.

Last year, Gauteng was the top province with a 78.6% pass rate, followed by the Western Cape with 76.8%, and the Northern Cape with 72.3%.

KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State each had a pass rate of 70.7%.

Mchunu said it was all systems go for the final examinations.

He said most schools were holding Saturday classes to prepare pupils for the exams, which begin on October 17.

KwaZulu-Natal has 127 044 full-time candidates and 23 342 part-time repeater candidates.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/KZN-sets-bar-high-for-matric-pass-rate-20111012