The matriculants of 2024, who achieved a record pass rate of 87.3%, deserve hearty congratulations. But while the outcomes of the education system are improving, much more can be done – and it can start by encouraging people to share their views.
That’s the view of Kagiso Trust, one of South Africa’s leading development agencies, which saw its long-term education work in two provinces – Free State and Limpopo – rewarded with matric pass rates of 91% and 85.01% respectively. These both reflected significant year-on-year improvements, with Free State learners outperforming their peers in every other province.
“Our school development programmes in Free State and Limpopo have been based on deep collaborations with provincial departments, education districts, principals, teachers and parents,” says Trust COO Themba Mola.
“By giving these stakeholders a say, we’ve been able to build a platform for sustainable achievement, as the provinces’ matric results for several years have clearly demonstrated. Now we’ve decided to take the next logical step, which is to create a way for all South Africans to have their say on the future of education.”
The Trust pioneered its online survey with four people of influence – two young activists with recent personal experience in education and two professionals working in the field – and Mola says their responses provide plenty of food for thought and a good starting point for further debate.
“They said there’s a lot going right but flagged a range of issues where there’s scope for improvement,” he says. “Most importantly, they have helped us to start this conversation, and now we encourage everyone who believes education is the foundation of a brighter future to contribute their opinions and suggestions.”
Yakhani Charlotte Mjiyakho, an intersectional climate activist studying environmental and geographical science and politics at the University of Cape Town, says the decision to make fee exemptions mandatory in former Model C schools gave historically excluded learners access to quality education and vital resources that were previously out of reach.
But Mjiyakho, who was involved in drafting South Africa’s youth gender action plan and supported negotiations on gender at last year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Azerbaijan, says robust investment is needed in free quality education. She also called for maximum accountability within the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
Radical feminist scholar Munnira-Afrikana Katongole, who was named South Africa’s best young researcher in 2020, says increased access to education has built a “deeply engaged student citizenry” and supported social justice movements such as #FeesMustFall and #BlackLives Matter. “These movements highlight how accessible education, coupled with constitutional freedoms, can serve as a powerful tool for societal transformation,” she says.
However, Katongole highlights an urgent need to “depoliticise, demonopolise and eradicate corruption in tertiary education”. The sector needs transparent and equitable admissions processes, prioritisation for underprivileged students and comprehensive access to subsidised resources, she says. “Without these reforms, systemic inequities will persist, perpetuating broader social injustices.”
Rodney Mokoena, the founder and CEO of the Global Application Office – a company that assists disadvantaged individuals with educational applications and opportunities – says education institutions’ collaborations with business are making technology more accessible in the classroom. He is also happy about the increased emphasis on early childhood education, and improved teacher training and professional development.
These are also areas that need further work, says Mokoena, and he wants to see stronger assessment and evaluation processes, more inclusive curricula that reflect diverse perspectives, and a greater focus on student mental health and wellbeing.
Murendeni Musanda Nndanduleni, the founder and chairperson of the Musanda Foundation, which focuses on uplifting community leaders and promoting educational initiatives, says successes include the focus on skills development, curriculum reform and community involvement. But he wants action to eliminate the disparity in the quality of education between urban and rural schools, and a greater emphasis on entrepreneurship and business education.
With a new cohort of Grade 12s having just returned to school, the survey also asks respondents for their advice to the matric class of 2025, and Nndanduleni says: “If things don’t go as planned and you happen to fail, remember that it’s not the end. You can always choose to repeat your matric. I did it myself, and today I’m pursuing by PhD at Wits University.”
Mokoena says: “Create a study schedule, stay organised, seek help when needed, prioritise your time, believe in yourself, and meet deadlines of school work and tertiary applications”.
Having navigated what she calls “systemic hurdles” in the university admissions process, Katongole puts forward a six-point plan to improve students’ chances of success: Understand faculty requirements, prepare and submit applications early, seek advice from students who’ve been through the process, secure funding early, focus on your studies, and plan strategically for the entire matric year.
Mjiyakho’s advice is succinct: “Build a strong study ethic early. Resilience and discipline help you excel, even in challenging environments. This is key for post-academic success.”
Kagiso Trust COO Mola says he hopes the survey, which takes as little as three minutes, will ignite a national conversation about education in which answers emerge for some of the sector’s toughest questions. He also encourages a pipeline approach, so that there is a holistic picture not only confined to Grade 12.
“The class of 2024 started their high school journey just as Covid-19 arrived, which makes their record-breaking performance particularly impressive,” he says. “They are proof that the education ecosystem has the capacity to rise above enormous challenges, and we invite every South African to suggest ways in which it can do this.”
To complete the survey, visit https://forms.gle/
