I could not agree more! I do believe that the school administration teams need to be a part of this forward movement, as all they seem to do is block any sort of way forward. We have tried to introduce an awesome concept to principals, (which has been endorsed by Ms Tyobeka) but we cannot even get appointments to present this product as the receptionists, secretaries, etc. will not let us through. Hence, our kids are suffering again!

Teachers appear to be the scape goat in every instance where results are poor. Sure there are some teachers that do no do their jobs but ask yourself: Where are the inspectors that are supposed to check up the teachers and make sure they are doing their jobs?

Parents often choose not to pay the school fees leaving many schools under resourced. The government has also taken a stance against many former model C schools giving them funds that can only cater for their lights and electricity. These schools are expected to pay for half of their teaching staff, the maintainance of their grounds, photostating, textbooks and transport. How can a school function when it is underfunded?

Many, but not all, parents do not take an active interest in their childs, this leaves the child free to do as they please, and this leads to discpline issues in the class. These issues cannot be dealt with in an effective manner if the parents are not their to support the teachers and school.

Many children cannot read at an adequate level to successfully answer their exam questions. Try teaching a grade 11 pupil who cannot read english and perform simply arithmetic calculations - even with a calculator - how are they expected to pass grade 11? The school recommends they be kept behind but the department of education has the final say and often promotes these kids to higher grades. What is the point of being given an education in the higher grades if you cannot cope with the "simple" stuff?

As an ex-teacher I can say that teachers are not to blame for this crisis but the poor attitude of many parents and the department of education who cannot provide adequate support to schools. Teachers have to behave like parents and counsellors to many of these kids because they do not receive the support they should.

@Anonymous 22hours ago - One of the reasons for the poor performance of pupils these days is the shocking level of education, experience and dedication of teachers. Allowing Technikon graduates to teach, especially in the formative years, will just make the problem worse. Would you be comfortable with somebody with a nursing diploma, (third of the knowledge of a specialist medical degree), operating on your body, or treating you for a mental disease? Children are complex and need specialised care to realise their inner potential. The younger they are the more need for specialisation, education of and dedication from the teacher.

Our minister of lower education would do well to research how teachers used to be educated, any lesser qualification is playing around with children's futures, as recent results show. Our education systen used to be rated one of the best in the world. It is time to be brutally honest and admit that not everything from the past was bad, some ways should have been kept, they worked.

This does not mean that a diploma from a Technikon is worthless. The best person to teach more technicians at a tertiary level is an experienced technician, precisely what is lacking in our economy at present. Technicians are the backbone of the economy. Bring back the excellent government subsidised apprentice schools that used to exist and the economy will grow stronger. It also gives those who lack the funds an entry to a tertiary education which can always, with more studies later, be converted to a degree. Some of the best engineers around started off as apprentices.

Go out there and gain experience in your field, build up the country, and then come back and train the next generation of technicians. If you still feel that you wish to teach at an elementary level, why not get the correct degree for the job, you seem dedicated enough?

One thing worries me, the honourable minister indicated that national goverment will be rode in to do school visits at provinces: Where will that capacity come from. Secondly, why do we have provincial departments. Is the minister admitting that education staff in provinces are incompetent. Then she should start dealing with the root cause and address the capacity and capabilities of provincial departments to do school visits for monitoring and evaluation.

I will start by congratulating the students who began 2009 with the end in mind. You reep what you sow and you are the reult of what you thought you should be when the year began.
As a university student having been part of the last group of learners that matriculated under the "old" education system I struggle to understand why the department of education still insists year after year that we will try and improve a system that has already failed in other countries with much better economies and infrastructure such as AUSTRALIA.
I as a student who is passionate about inspiring students to achieve their goals am disturbed when many of the high achievers in matric are enrolled in universities and they struggle to even get through Mathematics 1 or PHYSICS 1
Instead of us analysing stats and numbers we should be focusing on re-evaluating the system of NSC or perhaps bring back a modified version of the previous education system because I forsee our ministers coming to comprimised agreements of lowering the standard of university education to accomodate the incoming NSC students.
In the long run our degrees will fail to meet international standards and bodies such as ECSA will have to comply and de-accredit some institutions which in turn will reuslt in South African professionals not being recognised internationally and locally.
Universities will be flooded with learners who have sincerely qualified due to the system and sadly be turned away by the institutions.

Can we please employ competent people to review this education system.

PS Congrats to KZN for making us proud and now lets build on this achievement and remember the greatest threat to your next achievement is your last success.

I am inpressed with the realistic view on results - and especially that weaknesses are named and taken responsibility for. As teachers we are aware of structural flaws, but in the past they were mostly either ignored or treated very casually. For the past 15 years, top positions were vacated and appointed on racial grounds. Lots of expertise was blatantly pushed aside. The education system, especially in rural provinces like Limpopo, leaves much to be desired, but if problems are faced head on, we can only improve. Together we can make it better!

Congratulations to all who made it!

NOW are there any proper programes to assist these lerners to further their education?

Most Universities are already flooding!

In previous years I saw many learners turned away..

:-(

Maybe we will think about their future after the world cup and construct more higher learning institutions?

VIVA ANC VIVA...together we can do more .......DAMAGE...
Same every year, the results just get worse and worse and this is with the marks " adjusted" upwards.
We are spending more than most countries on education and for what results?????

This year's matric exam results shows that this nation is destined to survive for some time from now. It is especially heartening to know that it's largely provinces that have come up with an improved performance as compared to relatively advantaged ones. May this good performance serve as a source of inspiration to others, such as Mpumalanga, so that they too may do better next year and beyond. Halala KwaZulu-Natal, my beloved province!! May this level of performance always make us proud in many, many years to come.

Mduduzi Xakaza

I am glad to hear that she speaks of parent involvement. All parents should be taken to court if their learner is absent for more than 50 days, how do we keep parents accountable and involved. School is NOT a place for teachers to work miracles it is a place for imparting knowledge and this knowledge should be reinforced at home. But sadly lots of learners have no parent involvement, making learners ill disciplined.