Matric Results 2010

Imagine waiting for your final passing results of lets say your standardized tests, AP exams and final class grades at the same time, as a high school senior. And imagine awaiting these two days before you are leaving for college.

Yes my friends this week matriculants (like the graduating class) are getting there results and finding out whether they passed or not. Imagine being a school, a teacher, a parent, a sibiling... the entire country is talking aobut the Matric results right now. And I do not think we appreciated the intensity of it all like this in the US.

On the radio this morning they announced how many schools got a 100% pass rate in Gauteng, the province we live in. (Fact: Gauteng, means place of Gold in Sotho. Which is fitting as it gained it wealth and populance for the Gold mining.)

But they also talked with feeling for the Matriculants and about how they are the future of things in this country. I think it is also a big deal because college is not always as common nationwide. And the stress of these tests is something that is not forgotten the whole year through. Many are concerned now for the stress and teenagers commiting suicide. Its a scary reality, and makes me worried about how this pressure affects everyone.

Yesterday morning when we stopped for petrol, we got this handed a Citizen Newspaper and this was the photo on the front cover. With a headline aobut the joy of passing, but that only 6 out of 10 Matriculants will find jobs.


Jack Coulter, Jordan Vasani and Andy Petersen from St. John's College jump high up after receiving their results yesterday.

18 schools did not have a single pupil pass their matric exams. And this was the same case for the same schools in 2009. I know it happens, but that fact devisates me. And it devistates me that the discrepancies in education are so vast. here and in many other countries.

There are definately increases in the results this year. 2010 was a hard year for students in South Africa with a long break for the World Cup and a month later a three week long teachers strike. (Mind you there is a lot of private education in South Africa where students and teachers did not feel the same affects.)

The civil servant strike is also something I have wanted to blog more about. I am happy for unions to strike and for people to get a voice. It just gets so much more complicated when it is nurses and teachers providing necessary services and having such an important role. Also the scare tactics to keep collegues away was sad. But the singing going down our street during the strike was awesome.


Anyway despite all this, Matriculants still passed. And on this day I only hope more solutions are foudn to the education system here and everywhere. And for the furture of these people whether they passed or not, as they emerge beyond high school.

Congratualtions Matriculants!

Enjoy the next step,
Hannah