Underperforming teachers must get help: Shilowa

Shilowa delivered his state of the province address in Johannesburg

Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa says teachers and educational officials who are underperforming should urgently be dealt with.

He was speaking at the official announcement of the province's matric results for 2007.

Shilowa says dealing with underperforming people in the teaching profession does not simply mean getting rid of them, but helping them. He also says something needs to be done about the relatively low level of basic literacy in languages, maths and science in schools.

Gauteng Education MEC, Angie Motshekga, has expressed happiness with the province's performance in this year's matric exams. Gauteng recorded a pass rate of 74.6% - down by 3.7%.

Motshekga says after the public servants' strike earlier this year, she feared the worst but the results have surpassed her expectations. Despite the decrease in overall passing percentage, Gauteng's matriculants have shown an improvement in several areas.

Tshwane top achiever
The total number of learners who passed is up from just over 57 300 to just under 63 300.

The number of distinctions has risen by almost a thousand to 11 802 and 298 more learners have got an endorsement on their senior certificate for university entrance.

Tshwane Metropole's schools are the top performers in Gauteng in this year's matric exams. Out of the top 10 schools in the province, eight are from Tshwane.

The number one school in Gauteng is Hoërskool Menlopark. This is followed by Hoërskool Overkruin, Benoni High School, Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool, Pretoria High School for Girls, Hoërskool Garsfontein and Sutherland High School.

Hoërskool Waterkloof, Hoërskool Centurion and Greenside High School are also among the top performing schools. The best performing area in the province is Sedibeng east around Vereeniging, where 86.83% of the matric candidates passed.
Country wide matric results are available on the SABC's mobile service News Break 082 152 option 6. Students need their exam and ID numbers to access them and calls are charged at standard Value added service rates.