Minister praises PE for best matric results

A LETTER from Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga congratulating the Port Elizabeth district on producing the best matric results in the province last year has given officials confidence the 80% target set for this year will be achieved.

In the letter, addressed to district director Nyathi Ntsiko, Motshekga thanked him and his staff for "making all of us in the sector start off the 2014 academic year on such a buoyant note".

"I am particularly pleased that the improvements registered were not only in the overall percentage pass, but also in Bachelor passes and in key subjects such as mathematics and physical science," she wrote.

The minister said she expected even more improvement this year, both in the matric exams and annual national assessments.

The district's 2013 class yielded a 74% pass rate, an improvement on the 71.1% pass rate the previous year.

A pleased Ntisko said it meant so much to him and his staff to get recognition from the national office.

"We have set ourselves a target of 80% and we are confident that we will achieve it, and even more."

Ntsiko said they planned to hold quarterly workshops to assist teachers who might be struggling. – Zandile Mbabela