04 January 2012

Responding to reports that the Matric pass rate has improved for the class of 2011 the National Chairperson of the IFP Youth Brigade, Mkhuleko Hlengwa responded; "Good but not good enough!"

"I would like to congratulate all those matriculants who have made it. I hope that this first stepping stone to your future can help you achieve all your hopes and dreams. I wish you well in your continued studies, so that when you qualify, you can help grow South Africa into a better place to live, study and work," Hlengwa said.

"As you join your various institutions of learning know that the South African Democratic Students' Movement (SADESMO) is there to help you find your place on campus and help you champion your causes," he continued.

"To those learners who have not made it this time round, I call on you not to give in to despair, but rather use this experience to motivate yourself and encourage those around you that the only bad thing about failing is not using the opportunity to try again. Learn from your experience. Try to determine what went wrong and then rise to the challenge. Please also make use of all opportunities to write supplementary exams. No matter how you may feel at this moment please remember that this is not the end of the world, but rather an opportunity to do better.

"I am happy that the matric pass rate has stabilised and that 70.2 percent of learners are now able to proceed with their tertiary education, but I am somewhat concerned about the quality of the actual pass. I say this knowing that there are some schools which were able to produce quality results despite all the challenges they face, due largely to the dedication of both the learners and educators, but what of the majority, I have to ask?" said Mkhuleko.

"Will the quality of their pass allow them to excel at university, colleges and technikons? Will the quality of their pass improve the dropout rate after the first term in the institution of their choice, are just some questions we must all ask ourselves," he added.

Contact: Mkhuleko Hlengwa, IFPYB National Chairperson, on 083 871 2711.