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The SACP in the Free State Province welcomes the announced National Senior Certificate results , that reflect continued improvements on aggregate learner performance and other important performance indicators of the system and therefore congratulate the Class of 2017 for achieving an overall national pass rate of 75.1 percent.

We applaud the consistency in being the leading province in the country with an exceptional achievement of 86.1 percent pass rate and continued commitment of all the districts in the province for achieving pass rate above 80 percent, specifically Fezile Dabi and Thabo Mofutsanyane districts for being number one and two best performing districts in the country with 90.2 percent and 90 percent, respectively.

Whilst recognising the importance of progression of learners in curtailing potential dropouts, there has been reduction in number of progressed learners with a 63.2 percent pass rate for the National Senior Certificate. We further offer support for the increase in the national results and improvement towards the collaboration and sharing of best practices, instead of competition between the various provincial education departments. There is a need for equitable distribution of resources and provision of appropriate support infrastructure, especially to rural provinces in order to transcend the disparities that exist in the school system.

The SACP applauds the departmental leadership and administrative staff, the learners and educators for the commendable performance. We also appreciate the complementary efforts of all relevant stakeholders, inclusive of school governing bodies, trade unions, in particular the South African Democratic Teachers Unions (Sadtu), parents and various volunteers in supporting the Class of 2017. 

These efforts contributes to producing high quality skills and knowledgeable cohorts indispensable in the continuing struggle against the persisting structural features of unemployment, poverty and inequality arising from our capitalist economy.

We urge the students to utilise available opportunities, including the recently announced financial relief for qualifying students from poor, working class families to further their studies through universities and technical, vocational education and training institutions in order to ultimately serve the South African society wholeheartedly.

The SACP in Free State urges those who did not manage to pass not to despair and explore other existing alternatives.

Issued by SACP Free State