Gap between township and suburban schools closing, says Lesufi
Gauteng Education MEC Panyanza Lesufi says the department has managed to bridge the educational gap between the poor and rich.
Lesufi announced the 2019 Gauteng Matric results in Randburg on Wednesday.
Lesufi was joined by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, Gauteng Premier David Makhura and Johannesburg Mayor Geoff Makhubo.
Lesufi said there is now only a 2% gap between township and suburban schools.
He says that may not have retained the number one spot in the country, but the province is number one when it comes to providing quality education.
"We have closed the 60% /40% gap between urban schools and township schools. There's now a 2% gap.
"We are now proud to declare that all the kombis that were leaving the townships are making a U-urn back to the townships because of quality education."
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The Department of Basic Education (DBE) announced on Tuesday that the 2019 national matric pass rate has risen to 81.3%, the highest past rate in the last 25 years. The results have improved by 3.9% from 2018. The Free State province hit the top with a pass rate of 88.4% - a 0.9% improvement from the previous year.
Lesufi boasted with excitement that 44 000 pupils qualified for entry to a bachelor’s degree.
"With 44 000 bachelors, all the universities in Gauteng cannot take all my children. All our 15 districts are in the top 20 districts in the country."
Lesufi also responded to social media mocking schools in Soweto, saying they would only achieve a 2% pass rate.
"All our schools in Soweto have given us above 80% matric pass rate."
The Department of Basic Education awarded the top four achievers from township schools with bursaries.
"You can't pass Matric well and end up staying up at the townships," Lesufi said.