As we approach the Easter holidays, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all stakeholders in the basic education sector, including teachers, learners, parents, and members of the School Governing Body (SGBs), a happy and safe holiday period.

The Easter holidays are an important time for many South Africans, particularly those in the     Christian community, as they provide an opportunity for church conferences or pilgrimages, both within South Africa and abroad. As a result, we can expect the roads to be congested with holidaymakers and Christian community members travelling to various destinations.

While we celebrate this important holiday, it is essential to remember that road safety is paramount. We must obey road signs and rules to reach our destinations safely and soundly. Therefore, I implore all travelers to take road precautions to avoid any casualties during this Easter period.

As we enter the second term of the school calendar, we must address the shortcomings in the sector, especially in the areas of school infrastructure, early childhood development, and teacher development. We have identified several priority programmes, including the acceleration of the delivery of proper sanitation and school infrastructure to public schools, the strengthening of early childhood development, the effective implementation of the Three Stream Model in provinces, the implementation of Coding and Robotics in schools, as well as the institutionalisation of the General Education Certificate (GEC).

Achieving these goals will require a joint effort between the Government and the private sector. Fortunately, we have succeeded in mobilising support from various education stakeholders, including academics and the private sector, thus far. Through this support, we can improve our schools' education quality. In recent years, we have made tremendous progress in response to the principles of social justice, including access, redress, equity, inclusivity, equality, quality, and efficiency. The principle of redress, for example, is evident in implementing the Government's pro-poor policies, as reported in the 2022 NSC exam results. The 2022 NSC passes for quintiles 1 to 3 ("no fee") schools combined stand at three hundred and eighty-seven thousand, four hundred and one (387,401) - an increase of 9.2% from 2021. The Bachelor passes achieved by learners in "no fee" schools stand at one hundred and sixty-three thousand, nine hundred and three (169,903) - an increase of 13.4% from 2021.

According to local research studies, in 2005, 60% of the Bachelor passes came from the best-performing 20% of the schooling system. However, with the introduction of the Government's "pro-poor" policies in the education system, "no fee" schools produced 51% of the Bachelor passes in 2015, which increased to 58% in 2020, further  increased to 62% in 2021, and finally, a further increase to 64% during the 2022 NSC examinations.

Despite the progress, we must acknowledge that we still have an arduous task ahead of us: improving quality and  efficiency in the sector whilst eliminating inequalities where identified. One of the burning issues the education sector faces is the increasing spate of violence in several school communities. A paradigm shift is urgently needed  to create a non-sexist, violence-free, and non-racial school environment in South Africa.

We will continue to use our school safety programme to mobilise many more members of society to work with the  Government in promoting school safety across the country. Finally, as we prepare for the upcoming May/June examinations, I would like to encourage all candidates who have registered to write these exams through the Second Chance Matric Support Programme to use available study material to prepare adequately. The Matric Second Chance Support Programme is a flagship of the Government that provides South Africans, young and old, an opportunity to improve their qualifications and unleash their potential to become active citizens in the growth of the South African economy.

In conclusion, I would like to express my appreciation to civil society, teacher unions, academics, and the private sector for their unwavering support in ensuring that our children acquire basic education of a higher standard in our public schools.

I wish everyone a happy Easter weekend and safe travels.

Let us return from the holidays with renewed energy and commitment to address the challenges in the education sector and work towards a better future for all.

Yours Sincerely:

Mrs Angie Motshekga

Minister of Basic Education

Date: 06 April 2023