Dear Editor

Mike Siluma has summed it up well: “How we fail matrics by passing them”. By adjusting the pass rate, the Education Department is not only doing our children a disservice, but also our Country. Aside from in principle disagreeing with this adjustment; just how big was it? And in spite of it some provinces still underperformed?

As Mr Siluma put it, “this desire to ‘help learners along’” creates a false impression of their excellence, or lack thereof. South Africa’s future workforce is taught that mediocrity is rewarded and that 30% or 40% knowledge of your subject/field is satisfactory. Our future intelligentsia has a rude awaking when they have to pass admission tests or have to complete a bringing year before going on to study for a degree. Our children are not getting the basic education they deserve, leaving them ill-equipped to find employment and study opportunities.

I agree with Mr Siluma, the impact of outside factors (such as the unions and the Congress of SA Students) on our schooling system is bad news. The UDM has long said that: “teachers must teach and students must study” and our Education Department has once again proved that it is not doing its job in creating an environment where our teachers and learners can work.

Mr Bongani Msomi
Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement (UDM)

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