The matric class of 2022 started Grade 10 during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and were severely impacted in the critical years leading up to Grade 12, therefore achieving the second highest pass rate since 2019 is admirable, according to Kelly Joshua, Head of Education Investing at Old Mutual Alternative Investments (OMAI).
Joshua was speaking following the release of matric results for the schools in OMAI’s Schools & Education Investment Impact Fund South Africa (SEIIFSA) which, for the seventh year in a row, has delivered impressive matric results.
“Nationwide, both public and private schools faced a number of challenges, sharply brought into focus by the lingering effect of the pandemic and challenges such as continued power cuts. With this in mind, we are very proud of what our schools have achieved in the face of such significant disruptions, and we salute both staff and pupils for this monumental effort to improve the pass rate,” said Joshua.
Schools within the SEIIFSA portfolio, of which 90% fall into the affordable schools’ category, achieved an average pass rate of 92.8%, exceeding the national average of 80.1% by 12.7%. The average bachelor pass rate of the schools was 57.3%, exceeding the national average of 38.5% by 18.8%. Some 1636 learners in the portfolio sat for the exams in 2022, an increase of 291 students from 2021.
The education funds (SEIIFSA and Education Investment Impact Fund of South Africa) managed by OMAI invests in the provision of quality, affordable, independent education, while targeting a commercially attractive return for its investors. This model aims to make significant inroads into some of the public education sector’s most pressing challenges. To date, these funds have established 49 schools across South Africa that cater to 36 000 learners and employ roughly 2 000 teachers. The majority of the funds’ penetration is in the affordable schools’ market.
Reports suggest that the national actual pass rate is speculated to be lower. This estimate is based on the fact that the official results do not consider the high dropout rate, which would lower the 2020 Grade 10 cohort’s 2022 matric pass rate to under 55%.
Joshua added that while the most of SEIIFSA schools continued to excel and uphold high education standards, there would always be room for improvement.
“A key focus area for our schools will be to improve the quality of pass rates. This would entail a higher percentage of bachelor passes as well as more learners taking pure Mathematics and Physical Science,” she said. “While academic results are important, there must also be a stronger focus on the holistic development of a learner. Ideally learners should be able to exit the schooling system and immediately be able to enter the workforce. It is equally important that learners are equipped with the skills required to process and overcome the various psychosocial issues prevalent in today’s society.”
In 2023, SEIIFSA schools will invest in its Foundation Phase grades as well as the upskilling of teachers as quality teachers are fundamental to achieving quality education outcomes.
“We want to ensure that as learners enter high school, their capabilities in Mathematics and English are at the required level for that grade. Assessments are performed to establish any gaps in knowledge thereby enabling targeted interventions to take place as early as possible.”
Joshua noted that loadshedding had negatively impacted schooling, particularly due to the post COVID-19 increase in blended learning, which combined in-class and online teaching.
“Many schools have fully embraced this hybrid approach, but it is now being hampered by loadshedding which impacts connectivity and the charging of devices. The power cuts also disrupt the learners’ ability to study in the evenings, which is required to excel in the Grade 12 examinations. We are exploring alternative energy solutions to combat loadshedding and minimise the impact on our schools’ ability to operate effectively,” Joshua concluded.
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