THE announcement of the senior certificate results today is expected to indicate to South Africa's future leaders - being nurtured in the public education system - whether or not they are set on the right path.
For those who have passed the ultimate test, the doors of higher education are beckoning and the power of acquiring the skills, knowledge and confidence to contribute to the success of the nation will be in their hands.
For those who have attained poor symbols, supplementary exams are the best alternative, while those who have failed should think of rewriting the subjects in which they have performed poorly, or even repeating the grade.
This is because any other drastic measure, especially suicide, is not advisable when there are teachers, parents, friends, relatives and other counsellors to talk to.
It is gratifying that there has been a slight rise in the pass rate, but what matters most is the quality of the improvement, especially in the number of pupils attaining university entrance passes, and doing well in the gateway subjects like mathematics, physical science and accounting.
Chances are good for the candidates who passed maths and science, enabling them to study further, find good jobs, break the cycle of poverty, and even adding numbers to a viable economy that would boost the country's workforce.
Sadly, pupils who achieved the 40% pass rate required to be considered for university entrance had dropped from 85356 candidates in 2009 to 81374 candidates in 2010.
According to the Independent Examinations Board, the picture is still far from rosy this year. Thankfully, the education authorities are intensifying their efforts to help Grade 12 pupils to perform well in these crucial subjects. These include making morning, afternoon, Saturday and holiday classes compulsory.
But the schools that performed poorly should follow the example of the top achievers, whose success secrets include paying attention to the lower grades, imbuing the children with enough confidence to ensure they find matric to be less or not intimidating.
While the obsession with matric results includes the nasty pastime of finger-pointing or apportioning blame, the nation should be encouraged to be equally supportive of the youths who have done well and those who deserve a second chance.
With 2011 standing out as a year of fewer or no major interruptions, here's hoping that 2012 will yield a better outcome.
A wish for our matrics
THE announcement of the senior certificate results today is expected to indicate to South Africa's future leaders - being nurtured in the public education system - whether or not they are set on the right path.
For those who have passed the ultimate test, the doors of higher education are beckoning and the power of acquiring the skills, knowledge and confidence to contribute to the success of the nation will be in their hands.
For those who have attained poor symbols, supplementary exams are the best alternative, while those who have failed should think of rewriting the subjects in which they have performed poorly, or even repeating the grade.
This is because any other drastic measure, especially suicide, is not advisable when there are teachers, parents, friends, relatives and other counsellors to talk to.
It is gratifying that there has been a slight rise in the pass rate, but what matters most is the quality of the improvement, especially in the number of pupils attaining university entrance passes, and doing well in the gateway subjects like mathematics, physical science and accounting.
Chances are good for the candidates who passed maths and science, enabling them to study further, find good jobs, break the cycle of poverty, and even adding numbers to a viable economy that would boost the country's workforce.
Sadly, pupils who achieved the 40% pass rate required to be considered for university entrance had dropped from 85356 candidates in 2009 to 81374 candidates in 2010.
According to the Independent Examinations Board, the picture is still far from rosy this year. Thankfully, the education authorities are intensifying their efforts to help Grade 12 pupils to perform well in these crucial subjects. These include making morning, afternoon, Saturday and holiday classes compulsory.
But the schools that performed poorly should follow the example of the top achievers, whose success secrets include paying attention to the lower grades, imbuing the children with enough confidence to ensure they find matric to be less or not intimidating.
While the obsession with matric results includes the nasty pastime of finger-pointing or apportioning blame, the nation should be encouraged to be equally supportive of the youths who have done well and those who deserve a second chance.
With 2011 standing out as a year of fewer or no major interruptions, here's hoping that 2012 will yield a better outcome.
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