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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape congratulates learners and educators whose hard work and dedication paid off in the 2023 National Senior Certificate exams. We particularly want to commend the school community of the High School Elizabeth Conradie for their pass rate of 95.2%, even though challenges associated with the pandemic created additional difficulties for learners with special needs.

Unfortunately, instances of individual excellence are overshadowed by systemic failures and evidence of a system in dire need of rescue.

The Northern Cape has lost its educational footing and now finds itself at the bottom of the provincial rankings. If one considers the amount of Grade 10 learners enrolled in 2021 who dropped out before writing the matric exams in 2023, one finds that the real pass rate in the Northern Cape is only 42.8%.

This can come as no surprise when 81% of grade 4 learners and 56% of grade 6 learners cannot read for meaning.

We need to get the basics of basic education right. We need to equip the principals, deputy principals, and subject heads with the specialised managerial skills that are essential for educational success. And it is non-negotiable that all educators must have a true passion for the field. We need to fix school infrastructure, create safe hostel spaces, and provide reliable learner transport.

It is also important that communities take ownership of schools and help the learners in their neighborhoods. Socio-economic constraints contribute to the high drop-out rate and the high rate of teenage pregnancies in the province. As the cost-of-living crisis continues to make everyday life nearly unaffordable for many families, it is important for neighbours to help one another as and when they can.

It will only be through a collaborative effort that we can rescue our school communities. We want to see that the Class of 2024 performs well and we wish the learners, their families, educators, and non-educational staff all the best for the year ahead.

Issued by Dr Isak Fritz, MPL - DA Northern Cape Premier Candidate