Durban - THE KwaZulu-Natal Education Department is standing firm on its 80% matric pass rate target, despite concerns from teachers’ unions and an education expert that setting targets is unrealistic this year, a year in which pupils were away from the classroom for months due to the national lockdown occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Department spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said during the stricter lockdown period, the department had implemented strategies to ensure that classes continued virtually and on radio, and boot camps were also arranged. The province also achieved an increase in the number of Bachelor’s passes from 38573 in 2018 to 44153 in 2019, as well as an increase in diploma passes from 31222 in 2018 to 32696 in 2019.
National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA spokesperson Thirona Moodley said teachers had done their best with extra classes during the Covid-19 pandemic, and were optimistic that the matrics would do them proud under the circumstances.