For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: Motshekga says 81.3% matric pass rate shows 'desired stability' is getting closer; IFP applauds matric pass rate, questions quantity over quality; And, Ramaphosa says education is on an 'upward trajectory

Motshekga says 81.3% matric pass rate shows 'desired stability' is getting closer

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says the public education system is beginning to reach the desired stability after the matric class of 2019 achieved an improved 81.3% pass rate.

Motshekga told a room full of stakeholders at the official announcement of results in Midrand on Tuesday that there was no doubt that the system was beginning to reach the desired stability.

The 12th cohort to sit for the 2019 National Senior Certificate made a slight improvement from their 2018 counterparts - a 78.2% pass rate.

This public-school system sees South Africans send about 96% (12.8-million) of the country's children for an education.

IFP applauds matric pass rate, questions quantity over quality

The Inkatha Freedom Party congratulated the matric class of 2019 on their historic pass rate, saying the country had every reason to celebrate these results at face value.

However, IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said that qualitatively, the country still had a long way to go.

He added that the class of 2019 was faced with poor planning and under-resourcing of higher education infrastructure, especially TVET colleges, which he said were in disarray.

He went on to question whether the matric results would be an effective response to job market needs or whether it would even meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

And, Ramaphosa says education is on an 'upward trajectory

President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the 81.3% matric pass rate, saying South Africans can be proud that education is on an "upward trajectory".

Ramaphosa said the 81.3% pass rate was the highest since the advent of democracy in 1994. It is also the first time that the combined matric pass rate has breached the 80% threshold.

Noting the 3.1% improvement from 2018 when the national pass rate stood at 78.2%, Ramaphosa said: "South Africans can be proud that education, like most aspects of the nation's development, is on an upward trajectory which should inspire all to work together to accelerate and maintain excellence.

Ramaphosa also encouraged pupils who may not have passed to make use of the Department of Basic Education's second chance programme.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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