Teachers’ union’s reaction on matric results

By Anele Siwa
29 December 2007

On Friday afternoon teachers’ organisations welcomed the prompt release of the 2007 matric results.

“The union congratulates successful candidates, their families, the teachers and the examiners,” says South African Democratic Teachers Union President Thulas Nxesi.

According to Nxesi SADTU remains very critical as the results reflect the inequalities which are inherited from apartheid.

“For the rural kids and working class kids we have not yet turned around the corner and it is our view that a lot still has to be done,” says Nxesi.

Nxesi says the union is also concerned about the 200 000 students who failed this year and that they will welcome the initiative by the Department of Education to create opportunity for them to rewrite the exam.

“We demand that adequate resources must be available, in terms of learning and contact this year,” he added.

National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa President Dave Balt has congratulated Western Cape for being one of the top schools in the country.

“Generally NAPTOSA is very concerned about the outcomes as far as the national results are concerned,” says Balt.

According to Balt Limpompo and Eastern Cape provinces have just over 50% of the learners passed.

“We can not have systems where only a half of the learners pass after 12 years of schooling and we are calling for an urgent revaluation of the system,” says Balt.