Jan 19, 2024 Angie Motshekga, Matric Class of 2023, MISA, the Motor Industry Staff Association, Martlé Keyter,
MISA comment - Matric’s of 2023 make history
MISA, the Motor Industry Staff Association, is very proud of the Matric Class of 2023 for achieving the highest pass rate for this democratic era, but cannot help to fear what the future will hold for the 50% of fellow learners, who never made it to the final year.
Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, said the pass rate of this Class is exceptional and the learners have shown great resilience. She referred to the more than 700 000 learners who passed as “real Covid-19 babies” who did not have it easy, as they were exposed to the pandemic during Grade 9 and 10 and had to endure the gravest loadshedding in history during their final year.
Martlé Keyter, MISA’s Chief Executive Officer: Operations, says although MISA is proud to celebrate the achievements of these learners, there are roughly 200 000 leaners who did not pass the National Senior Certificate (NSC). If compared to the grade 1 group of more than 1,2 million who entered the school system in 2012, over 490 000 learners dropped out of school before 2023, mostly between Grades 9 to 11.
“Last year it was announced that more than 12 000 children, between the ages of 10 and 14, fell pregnant in 2022. Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, announced in December 2023 that the figure increased to 90 000 children who fell pregnant. “According to a report she tabled in Parliament, 88 122 schoolgirls between the ages of 15 and 19 fell pregnant in 2023. In addition, 2 328 girls between 10 and 14 years also fell pregnant during the year. These figures are shocking.
“Police Minister, Bheki Cele, revealed that 300 children were killed between April and June last year. This year we celebrate 30 years since our first democratic election, but South Africa remains the most unequal country in the world according to Oxfam International’s latest Inequality Inc. report. Something is terribly wrong,” says Keyter.
According to Keyter, Government must do more do prevent the high dropout rate of learners. The Youth Unemployment Rate is projected to trend at around 60.50 % this year and 61% in 2025.
MISA members can apply for school support to encourage learners from Grade 10 to complete their Matric. The Union also gives bursaries of up to R12 000 to the children of MISA members to study at tertiary institutions.
“MISA’s Women’s Forum and Young Workers’ Forum annually hosts Career Expo’s to introduce the retail motor industry to learners as a career option as well as job shadowing opportunities for learners interested to attend. But this is only a drop in the ocean and we need to see more initiatives to empower our youth for the changing world of work,” says Keyter.
For more information contact Sonja Carstens, Manager of MISA's Media and Communication Department on 082 463 6806 or
e-mail mailto:Sonja.Carstens@ms.org.za.
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