Covid bumps up matric intake by biggest margin in more than a decade

A DBE report says this is likely due to more pupils than usual being given a second chance after 2020’s difficulties

Minister of basic education Angie Motshekga visits a Midrand school on the first day of the matric exams last week.It’s official. The Covid-19 pandemic led to a 20% increase in matric pupil enrolment between 2020 and this year.

“The large declines in the average age in grades 10 and 11, in the context of the enrolment trends by grade and by age, could only be caused by lower levels of grade repetition.” In September Gustafsson said the data indicated that schools have been particularly accommodating in allowing grade 12 pupils to repeat, given the difficulties grade 12s had last year.

“What is found is that around 27,000 young children have not enrolled as first-time learners in the way they should, while up to 19,000 learners at the compulsory school-going age dropped out.”

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