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The Democratic Alliance in the North West urges the MEC for Education, Sello Lehari, to develop a turnaround strategy aimed at dealing with the decline in the matric pass rate.

In 2015, North West obtained an average pass rate of 81.5% whilst the pass rate for 2017 is now at 79.4%. The DA is concerned with the decline of Grade 12 results over the past three years.

The significant decline in the pass rate will lead to an increase in the numbers of young people who will be without a much-needed matric certificate, and they will end up roaming the streets without access to higher education and better opportunities.

MEC Lehari must prioritise the ailing Department of Education instead of being “missing in action” as he has been the last year as a result of his involvement as the ANC Provincial Deputy Chairperson, dealing with the party’s political infighting.

The DA wishes to congratulate all Grade 12 learners who passed their examination, we also commend the parents and teachers who worked hard to assist learners to achieve good results in their studies.

We urge learners who were not successful to take advantage of programs aimed at enabling them to improve their matric results.

Issued by DA