Matrics who wrote the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) exam last year achieved a pass rate of 98.07%, slightly down on the 2019 rate of 98.82%.
Just over 88% achieved bachelor passes – the qualification for university study – compared with 89.5% in 2019.
IEB exams are written mostly by private schools. The IEB matric class of 2020 comprised 12 024 full-time and 1 139 part-time candidates across southern Africa.
Results of the government’s national senior certificate exams, written at public schools, are to be released on Tuesday.
IEB CEO Anne Oberholzer told Businesslive that the hard lockdown had varying impacts on independent schools.
Some were able to make a smooth transition to online teaching and learning as they had the resources available and had already been using them in the normal course of events. However, many schools could not deploy an online teaching model, because either the school or the majority of pupils did not have adequate resources. Teachers in these situations reverted to traditional distance education strategies.
Said Oberholzer: ‘The initiative of schools and teachers to continue with teaching and learning during this time is a testimony to their professionalism and the commitment of teachers and learners, as well as the support of parents to pivot and adapt to our changed circumstances.’
IRR analysts point out that the growth of independent schooling is a key social trend in South Africa, with enrolment in independent schools rising 130.4% between 2000 and 2018 against a 6% increase in public school enrolment over the same period.
The highest rises were recorded in the Eastern Cape (641.6%) and Limpopo (285.8%).
[Image: Lacie Slezak on Unsplash]