SA's matriculants could be set for sweeping changes to the way they are taught and tested, including raising the pass mark to 40%, offering mathematics to be compulsory at all schools and introducing more stringent university entrance requirements. This is according to a Sunday Times report this morning.
The paper notes that a ministerial task team on the National Senior Certificate has noted the proposals, which are likely to be welcomed by education experts.
Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga could yet face resistance from the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), which the Sunday Times says has been a stumbling block to education reform in the past.
The task team's report was drawn up by academics and has been handed to Motshekga and has yet to be discussed with trade unions, MECs for education and Cabinet, the paper says.
Not good enough
The current 30% pass rate for matric subjects has come under fire in recent years and the paper quotes University of the Free State rector and vice-chancellor Jonathan Jansen, who described the requirement as an "absolute disgrace".
"Motshekga is making a giant mistake by boasting about the matric pass rate," he said.
The task team has suggested that requirements for matrics who wanted to study for a degree be changed to passing four subjects at 50% and two others at 40%. Life orientation - a subject introduced to teach pupils about health, careers and citizenship - should be abolished as an examination subject, according to the report.
Maths concerns
The task team expressed concern at the increasing number of schools that did not offer maths at all, the Sunday Times reports.
In 2008, 150 schools did not offer maths and the figure grew to 286 in 2012.
Another recommendation included not allowing pupils to take up certain science subjects or a combination of economics and accounting at matric level without mathematics.
However, a new curriculum could push down the matric pass rate, with the task team recommending the Department of Basic Education maintains the old system for another eight to 10 years in the interests of stability.
The paper notes that a new-look mathematics examination will be written this year, while the task team's concern was the shortage of "competent and qualified teachers to teach a new, more demanding mathematics curriculum".
Teaching reforms
The report says the way schools award marks during the year must be monitored in order for standards to be universally maintained. Principals and subject heads must be held more accountable for the validity and reliability of schools-based assessments during the matric year.
Stricter criteria must be applied in appointing moderators of matric exams, while teachers marking final exams at all levels of seniority must have the required qualifications and experience. They should also be able to demonstrate their competence prior to being appointed, the report says.
Meanwhile, another recommendation put to the table was that newspapers no longer be able to publish matric results, but rather focus on "individual success stories".
"The extreme embarrassment of candidates who are not successful and are so publicly revealed as failures has serious consequences, and there are cases annually of its leading to self-harm and even suicide," the report says.
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