The Western Cape Education Department says various socio-economic issues can be blamed for poor matric results, especially in poor communities.
Overcrowding in classrooms also remains a concern.
Western Cape matric results will be released on Friday morning.
Provincial Education Head Brian Schreuder says it’s unfair that pupils living in gang riddled areas are forced to deal with violence, while trying to obtain an education.
“How do we expect kids to learn when bullets fly around. How do we expect kids to learn when we teach them that when there are gang fights and killings on a regular basis, they must fall down for safety sake. How do they go to school under that environment?”
Meanwhile, the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) in the province has called on affected communities to work together to create safer schools.
