Class of 2020 dribble past the virus as they register impressive pass rate 

THABISILE KHOMO

Despite all the challenges that were posed by the outbreak of covid-19 pandemic in the country’s education sector, they have managed to obtain an impressive 76.2% pass rate.

Announcing the results in Johannesburg on Monday evening, the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga said, the 2020 matric class has persevered against monumental challenges that the South African education system has never been exposed to in the past.

“They have characterised the resilience of the system which withstood an unprecedented test of administering an examination of the largest number of candidates faced by the worst pandemic in the human history,” she said.

Motshekga further revealed that had it not been for the covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 matric class could have been the best performers since the inception of the National Senior Certificate.

“In celebrating these children’s achievement, we must thank the principals, teachers, support staff as well as the parents for the work they have done. Schools are the coalface of basic education delivery. What you do at the school level is what matters the most.

“The future of our children and the prosperity of our nation is in our hands. We applaud you all for the great work you continue to do on a daily basis” added Motshekga.

She also mentioned that although the 2020 matric class did well, but the pass rate has dropped by 5.1% from 2019’s which stood at 81.3%.

Announcing the provincial level performances, the Free State came out top as it obtained 85.1%.

Ugu district which is largely made of deep rural areas in the South coast of the KZN achieved 81.7%, leading as the top performer in the entire province.