An article that claims the 2010 matric pass rate was actually 57 percent was based on wrong calculations, the education department said on Friday.
“The matric pass rate we have given of 67.8 percent is absolutely correct based on the method we have been using over the past 16 years,” spokesman Granville Whittle told Sapa.
The Sowetan's front page on Friday read: “WRONG ANGIE Now repeat after Sowetan: 279033 ÷ 643546 43% failed, the real pass rate is 57%.”
He said the newspaper had used the wrong method to calculate the percentage.
“They took the total number of learners registered to write exams and included part-time candidates (repeat candidates who failed previously) to do their calculation.
“Learners who failed before only write subjects that they failed and this number is not included in the total figure,” explained Whittle.
Whittle said the department was questioning the motives behind the report.
He said the department was not planning to take legal action but expected an apology.
“They owe us that much... the department is upset and the thousands of learners who worked hard must be equally upset.”
The Sowetan editor was not immediately available for comment. - Sapa