Earlier this year, Creecy revealed that only 35% of children who start school finished. This was dramatically more than 1994, when the completion rate for those who enrolled 12 years earlier was 29%.

Yesterday Creecy said primary schools were failing to meet their reading, writing and numeracy targets.

"Two thirds of pupils leave primary schools without proper reading, writing and arithmetic skills. If they go to high school and battle, they will drop out," Creecy said.

The highest number of dropouts in Gauteng, she said, were at Grade 10 and 12.

Democratic Alliance education spokesman Khume Ramulifho said it was unacceptable that the repetition rate was 4% in primary schools and 18% in high schools.

He said it was possible that the repetition rates were underestimated because of pupils who drop out of school in the middle of the year, and re-enrol for the same grade the next year.

Creecy said the Gauteng primary language and mathematics strategy would assist in improving literacy among pupils. - monamat@sowetan.co.za

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Thu May 23 10:22:06 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 4, 2012

RobinH

Ms Creecy: It is hardly surprising that children are dropping out of school. I am an ardent activ ist for decent educ ation for all, but with respect, your govern ment has unequivocally ensured that chi ldren have almost nothing to gain from going to schools in which there are no textbooks, where teachers are perpetually on st rike and often completely uneq uipped to deal with anything but the most basic of issues, where children go to school arm ed with kniv es and gu ns, where girls are constantly at risk of abu se either from other children, or their teachers. What hope is there for coming out of that maels trom of utter confusion unsca thed? Virtually none. Sort out your system, lady, before you open that mouth again.
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