ATC:220208: Report of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on the Official Release of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) Results for 2021, dated 8 February 2022.

Basic Education

Report of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on the Official Release of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) Results for 2021, dated 8 February 2022.

 

The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, having attended the official release of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) results for 2021, reports as follows:

 

1.         Introduction

 

  1. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Hon B P Mbinqo-Gigaba, attended the official release of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) results for 2021 on Thursday, 20 January 2022 at the SABC Studios in Kempton Park, Johannesburg. She was accompanied by the Committee Secretary for the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Mr L. Brown.

 

2.         Background

 

The national examination system in South Africa is managed by the Department of Basic Education supported by the nine Provincial Education Departments (PEDs). National examinations are conducted in accordance with the Regulations Pertaining to the Conduct, Management and Administration of the National Senior Certificate. The Department monitors the implementation of these regulations, while the heads of examinations in the provinces are responsible for their implementation.

 

With the completion of the marking of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) Examinations in December 2021, the Minister of Basic Education officially announced the final results which were broadcast live nationally. The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Hon B P Mbinqo-Gigaba was invited to attend the official announcement of the results of the NSC Examinations for 2021 at the SABC Studios in Kempton Park, Johannesburg on Thursday, 20 January 2022.

 

3.         Presentation of the 2021 National Senior Certificate (NSC) Examination Results Technical Briefing – Mr H M Mweli, Director-General: Department of Basic Education

           

Mr Mweli, in his opening remarks, touched on the strategic direction of the Department and how the National Development Plan guided the work of the Department. The National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results was one of the most important barometers to evaluate the success of the sector. The establishment of the Systemic Evaluation Programme would provide the Department with performance trends in Grades 3, 6 and 9 and the establishment of the General Education Certificate (GEC) would provide a standardised assessment at the end of Grade 9. The Department also measured performance against the Social Justice Principles (Access, Redress, Equity, Quality, Efficiency & Inclusivity).

 

The Class of 2021 was the largest class to date to sit for the NSC examinations and was disadvantaged by the lockdown during their Grade 11 year in 2020 – the last two years of their schooling had not been normal by any measure. As much as the lost time was recovered through measures such as the shortening of the June vacation in 2020, the cancelling of the June examination in 2020 and 2021 and the extension of Term 4 in 2020, these learners had to endure major psychological and academic hurdles.

 

Details related to the Education Sector Plan, in particular the Sustainable Development Goas (SDGs) and other plans, including Action Plan 2019, were presented. Mr Mweli also alluded to the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) priorities for the Sixth Administration. He further gave details on the shape and size of the basic education sector and the profile of the Class of 2019.

 

The Director-General presented a detailed overview of the current size and shape of the Basic Education Sector in respect of the number of learners, educators and schools in the ordinary school sector per province as well as the size of the schooling system for public and independent schools. Further to this the Director-General also alluded to some of the following key areas:

  • Tracking the Class of 2021;
  • Comparison of Grade 12 EMIS Data versus Exam Data;
  • Learner support for the Class of 2021;
  • NSC Promotional Requirements;
  • Scope and size of the 2021 Examinations
    • Enrollments;
    • NSC 2019/20 Progressed Learners;
    • Age Analysis
    • Special Needs Learners;
    • Correctional Services Candidates; and
    • Social Grant Enrolled
  • Standardisation
  • Historical Trends; and
  • Overall Performance
    • NSC Passes by Qualification;
    • Passes per Quintile, Gender and Age;
    • Subject Performance; and
  • Progressed Learners.

 

In conclusion, the Director-General gave a detailed overview of the general improvement in the areas of access, redress, equity, efficiency, quality and inclusivity. Despite the challenges, the system had demonstrated its resilience to overcome the odds. There was an indication that the schooling system was maturing and was developing a capability to deal with unexpected challenges and enhance outputs. The system has shown significant improvements as follows:

  • More learners attained the NSC (96 985 more);
  • More learners attained admission to Bachelor Studies (45 211 more); and
  • More distinctions (34 290 more)

 

4.         Address by Hon a Motshekga, Minister of Basic Education

           

In her opening remarks, the Minister indicated that 2021 academic year, would be remembered as the year that, not only presented major health challenges, but as the second year in which the entire world was held to ransom by the novel COVID-19 pandemic. At this stage, the Class of 2021, was the most affected by the CVOD-19 pandemic, as they had to endure two consecutive years of harsh exposure to the unrelenting COVID-19 pandemic. Government, with its Basic Education Departments and its strategic partners, worked tirelessly to strike a balance between saving lives and saving the 2021 academic year.

 

Notwithstanding the fact that in 2021, the Class of 2021 had to go through the harsh realities brought about by COVID-19 in 2020, while they were in Grade 11, simultaneously they faced the same harsh realities, while they were going through their 2021 academic year. 

 

Minister Motshekga alluded to the International Benchmark Assessment Study and the National Assessment Framework (NAF). In respect of the 2021 National Senior Certificate Examinations Results, the Minister, amongst others indicated that Department interventions continued to cater for both learners who are at risk of underperformance, and learners who were moderate to high achievers. This differentiated approach, aimed to address both content deficiencies that may prevent learners from achieving good educational outcomes; as well as providing support to moderate and high achievers to improve their performance – thereby improving the quality of learning outcomes.

 

There was a need to contextualise the hostile environment within which the Class of 2021 sat for their 2021 National Senior Certificate examinations, an environment that none of the previous cohorts of learners were ever exposed to in the past. The 2021 academic year, similarly to the 2020 academic year, will remain an extraordinary year for all sectors in the world, and our Basic Education Sector in particular.

 

As a Sector, the Department continued to ensure a safe and healthy school environment, and adhering to the health and safety measures to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 infections in schools. Wide consultations and collaboration within the Sector, were a critical factor in ensuring success. All activities related to the 2021 NSC exams, were craftily managed – from the actual writing of the exams; marking of the scripts; the capturing of the results, and the standardisation of the results by Umalusi.

 

Umalusi had declared that “there were no systemic irregularities reported that might have compromised the credibility and the integrity of the November 2021 NSC examinations, administered by the DBE”. The Executive Committee of Umalusi further approved the “release of the Department’s November 2021 NSC examination results, based on the available evidence that the examinations were administered in accordance with the examination policies and regulations”.

 

The Minister further gave a broad, but detailed overview of the following key areas:

  • Profile of the Class of 2021;
  • Pass requirements for the NSC Examinations;
  • Performance of Progressed Learners;
  • Learners with Special Education Needs;
  • Access and retention of learners from Grade 1in 2020 to Grade 12 in 2021; and
  • Performance of the Social Grant recipients and candidates in correction facilities.

 

On the overall National Performance, the Minister indicated that the 2021 NSC overall pass rate, with the progressed learners included, stood at 76.4% – an improvement of 0.2% from the pass rate achieved by the Class of 2020. This, represents a record of 537 687 candidates, who passed the 2021 NSC examinations – an improvement of 21.9% passes from 2020. Without the progressed learners, the overall pass rate stood at 79.8% – just 0.2% below the 80% pass rate. The Minister further elaborated on the 2021 NSC examination results analysis as well as the Provincial and District level performance (see presentation by the Director-General above).

 

In respect of District Level performance, the Minister touched on the district performance by achievement interval and province for 2020 and 2021. For the 2021 NSC examinations, none of the 75 districts attained pass rates lower than 50 percent – two districts performed between 50 – 59.9 percent, 10 districts performed between 60 – 69.9 percent, 37 districts performed between 70 – 79.9 percent and 26 districts performed between 80 and above percent. The top ten district level performances in the country were:

  • Tenth    -           Eden and Central Karoo in Western Cape, with 84.4 percent;
  • Ninth     -           Johannesburg North in Gauteng, with 84.9 percent;
  • Eighth - Xhariep in the Free State, with 85.5 percent;
  • Seventh -          Lejweleputswa in Free State, with 85.6 percent;
  • Sixth     -           Metro North in Western Cape, with 86.2 percent;
  • Fifth      -           Ekurhuleni South in Gauteng, with 86.2 percent;
  • Fourth   -           Johannesburg West in Gauteng, with 86.5 percent;
  • Third     -           Fezile Dabi in Free State, with 87.5 percent;
  • Second -           Motheo in Free State, with 87.9 percent; and
  • First      -           Tshwane South in Gauteng, with 89.3 percent.

 

Further to this the Minister also detailed the bottom 10 districts and the top 10 districts by fee status. The Minister also alluded to Special Needs Education and learners by qualification type as well as the performance of part-time candidates. Details were provided on distinctions per province and the number and percentage of distinctions in the 12 key subjects. In respect of Social Grants, the Minister gave a breakdown of those who wrote and achieved by status, gender and grant type. The Minister also spoke on the Correctional Services full-time and part-time candidates who sat for the 2021 National Senior Certificate Examinations.

 

In conclusion, the Minister indicated that the system had begun to reach the desired stability which was healthy for a large system. The unquestionable resilience school community had shown against such a devastating pandemic; could not go by unnoticed. The high quality passes achieved this year, especially the number of Bachelor and Diploma passes, the overall pass mark, and the passes with distinctions, even in critical subjects, were the hallmarks of the performance of the Class of 2021.

 

The Classes of 2020 and 2021 produced the best results of quality in the history of the NSC exams. Had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic, these two Classes could have been the best performers, since the inception of the NSC exams. The Minister was proud of the Classes of 2020 and 2021, which persevered against such monumental challenges that the system was never exposed to in the past. These two Classes, have characterised the resilience of the system, which withstood an unprecedented test of administering an examination of the largest number of candidates.

 

In celebrating the great achievements of the Class of 2021, it was important to thank principals, teachers, support staff, and parents for the work they continue to do. Schools were the coalface of Basic Education delivery. She also thanked His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa and Cabinet, the Portfolio and Select Committees responsible for Basic Education, the Honourable Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule, the Honourable MECs responsible for Basic Education and their respective Heads of Departments for their stewardship, their leadership and their continued advice and support. She also thanked the Director-General and his team of selfless officials for the hard work they continue to provide as well as all the strategic partners – teacher unions; governing body associations; our business partners; the NECT; Umalusi; SACE; researchers, sister departments and South Africans, who together with the Department, had made the stability and the improvement of our Sector their responsibility.

 

The Minister also thanked MTN for sponsoring the event; as well as the SABC for hosting the event. The Governing Party was correct in declaring education a societal matter. She encouraged the 12-17 year-old learners to vaccinate; but do so, with parental consent and encourage educators and support staff to get the booster shots. This was the best way to protect school communities from COVID-19 and its variants.

 

Top Achievers

Hon Motshekga further detailed the top achievers for the following subjects:

  • Mathematics
  • Physical Science
  • Technical Mathematics
  • Technical Science

 

Further to this, Hon Motshekga also gave details for the top achievers for the following categories of learners:

  • School Quintiles (1 – 5);
  • Special achievers; and
  • SA Sign Language Home Language.

 

The evening was concluded with a vote of thanks by the Deputy Minister for Basic Education, Dr R Mhaule, followed by engagements and interviews with the media.

 

Report to be noted.

 

 

 

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