Gwarube plans new measures for provincial education performance

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says provincial education performance will from now be ranked using a broader set of indicators.

Gwarube says these include bachelor passes, learner retention, participation and performance in gateway subjects – such as mathematics, science and accounting.

She says the new approach aims to improve the quality of education and discourage schools from prioritising pass rates at the expense of learner development.

The Minister addressed the media on the 2026 final matric exam readiness.

“This approach will allow provinces to benchmark their performance in a far more meaningful way, identifying areas that require intervention.

The question will not be whether or not our learners have passed, but where the provinces are improving in terms of literacy, numeracy, retention and gateway participation,” she adds.

VIDEO | 900 000 candidates set for Matric exams Meanwhile, the department is calling on parents and communities to support learners , and ensure that nothing disrupts the 2026 Matric examinations.

Deputy Basic Education Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule says the department is working with municipalities and other stakeholders to address challenges, including water supply disruptions in some areas.

Mhaule says collective efforts are needed to ensure learners can write their final examinations without unnecessary disruptions.

“We are calling upon parents, communities to support this writing of the examination.

Our examinations, our learners are ready, universities are ready to receive them.

So let’s not make anything to be too difficult for them and we believe, as we have always been doing, that we work together with communities in order for this exam to be a success,” explains Mhaule.-Additional reporting by Musa Mhlongo VIDEO | Managing the pressure of the final Matric exams with Dr Keitumetse Mashego