EMBARGOED UNTIL AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE MINISTER
NAPTOSA’S COMMENT ON THE 2015 NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE
Dr Anthea Cereseto, the incoming President of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA), commenting on the results of the 2015 National Senior Certificate (NSC) commended the Department of Basic Education (DBE) on its management of the NSC examination involving approximately 800 000 candidates. The decrease in the overall pass rate from 75.8% in 2014 to 70.7% in 2015, while disconcerting, does demonstrate the commitment of the DBE to implement the higher cognitive demands of the CAPS curriculum, said Dr Anthea Cereseto.
However, NAPTOSA’s congratulations are muted amidst the continued dishonesty and ongoing cheating in the 2015 NSC examination, said Dr Cereseto. NAPTOSA calls on the DBE to make public the disciplinary actions taken against the perpetrators of the 2014 NSC mass cheating, she added. Failure to do so creates the impression of condoning such acts and threatens the credibility of the NSC in the coming years.
While acknowledging the increase in the real numbers of candidates who passed, NAPTOSA believes that the time has come to focus on the quality of passes. NAPTOSA is therefore especially concerned by the sharp decline in the overall quality of passes, as indicated in the decrease in Bachelors passes to 25.8 % in 2015 from 28.3% in 2014, said Dr Cereseto.
It is a matter of grave concern, said Dr Cereseto that learners have not been able to meet the higher cognitive demands and that Umalusi was required to make upward adjustments particularly in subjects with large enrolments. Dr Cereseto added that these poor results demand that a thorough investigation be done into the root causes of high subject failure rates including the social, psychological and economic factors and the extent to which wrong appointments made through corrupt practices have impacted on the system.
NAPTOSA once again raises the issue of the unacceptable dropout rate which sees less than 60% of learners starting in Grade 1 reaching matric twelve years later. We are doing the children of South Africa a great injustice, said Dr Cereseto.
NAPTOSA regrets that little progress has been made towards alternative worthwhile vocational or occupational skills programmes for learners with special education needs. NAPTOSA strongly supports the DBE initiatives to remedy this deficiency, said Dr Cereseto.
Examination Directorates in the national and provincial departments (as well as the Umalusi officials) need to be commended for their management of the National Senior Certificate examination, said Dr Cereseto.
NAPTOSA also wishes to commend the dedicated teachers (from Grade R to Grade 12) who have made an enormous contribution to the successes that we are celebrating today. The 2015 NSC diagnostic analysis should inform how and where teachers need to be further empowered through effective professional development strategies designed to meet their individual needs.
Although the focus is on those candidates who have been successful in the 2015 examination NAPTOSA wishes to encourage those candidates who were unsuccessful. Dr Cereseto urges these candidates either to return to school to complete the NSC or to explore other options of further study that are available.
Finally, the new leadership of NAPTOSA, Dr Cereseto (President) and Mr Basil Manuel (Executive Director), congratulates all of the successful candidates of the Class of 2015! You have done your parents, teachers and your schools proud.
End of Statement
Enquiries: Dr Anthea Cereseto (President) - 082 610 5756
Mr Basil Manuel (Executive Director) - 079 508 6228