Attention broadcasters: Please see attached English soundbite.
After working throughout the holidays to build schools and classrooms, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has been able to place 98.73% of Grade 1s and 98.81% of Grade 8s.
This was disclosed in the WCED’s briefing to the Standing Committee on Education this morning.
Of those unplaced, 88.25% of Grade 1 and 90.21% of Grade 8 applications were received extremely late in 2023 – almost 11 months after admissions first opened. There are currently 22 unplaced learners who applied on time last year, but their parents have either been unreachable or have not accepted an offer of placement.
Nonetheless, the WCED had a help desk placed in the Legislature’s lobby during the Standing Committee meeting. This allowed parents present to lodge any queries or concerns with the Department, including those related to placements.
Admissions process for 2023 academic year
Between 2018 and 2022, the average growth rate of enrolment increased by 17 901 every year. This meant that the WCED had to begin its admissions process earlier in March last year, which was also preceded by various advocacy campaigns in schools and the media. Thereafter, the WCED worked throughout the year to ensure that children are placed and that outstanding cases were resolved.
However, with the influx of learners annually increasing, the Rapid School Build (RSB) programme was implemented last year to ensure that our schools had sufficient capacity for learners going forward. So far, the WCED has completed 662 classrooms by 31 January with a total of 180 in the process of being built within the target dates. This means that we were able to build, on average, 8 classrooms per day. We saw this success when Saxonsea Junior High School took just 65 working days to be completed.
School readiness for the 2023 academic year
The WCED has focused much of its efforts in making sure that our learners adequately resourced for this academic year. For example:
- 1 143 teaching posts have been allocated for 2023.
- Over and above 842 classrooms built RSB programme, 70 mobile classrooms have been procured to be placed in areas of demand and late applications.
- In terms of learner materials, the WCED had delivered R62 million of textbooks, R50 million of furniture, R39 million of stationery and R1.6 million of equipment. Additional textbooks are being delivered as the RSB programme is completed.
- All learner transport scheme applications were received and finalised by December last year.
2022 National Senior Certificate (NSC) Results
Last year, our matric results showed that our efforts to overcome the impact of Covid-19 has steadily stabilised our results with our pass rate increasing to 81.4% after falling to 79.9% in 2020.
In total, 62 350 candidates registered to write the NSC exams with a 96.8% candidate turnout being achieved overall. During this period, 124 national papers were written across 485 examination centres. Some notable highlights include:
- The Western Cape obtained the highest pass rates in the country for Mathematics and Physical Science of 67.9% and 81.1%, respectively.
- Four of our districts achieved pass rates above 80%, with Metro North receiving the highest Bachelor’s degree access of 51.9%.
- 70 schools had a 100% pass rate, with another 92 achieving rates of 95% and above.
MPP Deidré Baartman says: “As we were briefed on the NSC results, admissions process and school readiness, we could see that the Western Cape is fortunate to have a dedicated education department serving our province. Their efforts to produce quality education for every child in every classroom are clear for all to see.
With the admissions process for the 2024 academic year opening on 13 March, we call on all parents to ensure that your children’s applications are handed in on time. The WCED will be embarking on an extensive campaign at all primary schools and registered ECD facilities, including advertisements and pop-up desks in all districts.
Let us work together so that our learners can enjoy the education the Western Cape has to offer!”