The Democratic Alliance welcomes the slight improvement in the 2016 matric results from 56.8% to 59%, an increase of 2.5%. But this is far off the department’s  goal of 70%.

There is no cause for celebration.  We are the worst performing province, with the five worst performing districts,  each obtaining less than 50%.  The Eastern Cape is the only province with districts that achieved less than 50%.

The learners of this province are being badly let down by the department’s failure to meet its own targets and plans. For example, the MEC of Education has failed to fully implement his new service delivery model in reducing the 23 districts to 12 and to establish 150 circuit offices, located where schools are.

We congratulate the Cradock district for again achieving the best results the province as well as all the learners who passed their matric.

It is time that the Premier and the MEC took a hard look at what is going wrong in the department and make the necessary changes. The learners of this province cannot continue to be sacrificed on Sadtu’s altar of appeasement because the provincial government lacks the courage to make the necessary changes. — Edmund van Vuuren MPL, Shadow MEC for Education