EASTERN Cape has recorded the lowest pass rate in the country, registering a 58.1% pass, 0.2% lower than last year.

The province scored 10% lower than the the other two provinces that make up the bottom three. KwaZulu-Natal achieved 68.1% and the Northern Cape scored 68.8%.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said the ministry would be taking over the 15 lowest performing districts, 11 of which are in Eastern Cape. Speaking at the announcement of the 2011 matric results the minister said: "If provinces don't move, we move in."

Her comments were a reference to the debacle that became the national government's attempt to take over administration of Eastern Cape's education department.

A power struggle ensued last year when Motshekga sent a team led by Matanzima Mweli to look into the problems plaguing the province.

Resistance from provincial leaders resulted in President Jacob Zuma stripping Mweli of his powers to effectively run the department.

"Last year we could not take over. This year we are going to take over more vigorously," Motshekga said.

Out of the total number of matriculants who sat for examinations, only 15% achieved a pass with university exemptions .

Administration issues facing the province do not help the situation.

The Eastern Cape department of education was unable to provide comment since they were still studying the results at the time of going to press.