Technology has been used world wide for a long time to assist scholars in learning and especially exam preparation – and now, finally, it seems South Africa is catching on.
A website designed to support students writing their National Senior Certificate (Matric) will go live in the Western Cape on Monday, the Provincial Ministry of Education said.
Bronagh Casey, a ministerial spokeswoman, said that the website will utilize one of the internet‘s best educational resources, YouTube, to assist scholars in preparing for their matric exam.
According to the Ministry of Education, the website will provide scholars with access to over 180 YouTube videos that are aimed at providing tips for passing the final matric exam.
The website will also give scholars links to previous exam papers and national resources.
This new website might just be exactly what our (rather dismal) education system needs.
The poor matric pass rate has long since been a thorn in the Department of Education‘s side.
In 2012, however, the reported pass rate was a rather unusual 73.9%. Which was a leap of 10% from 2011 and 2010.
Many have criticized the reported, controversial 73.9% pass rate of last year, saying that it might be a result of meddling by the Department of Education, to wipe some egg of their faces.
However, the pass rate might be improving, but the number of scholars passing with matric exemption and who will be eligible to attend university is still poor.
In 2012, only one in four scholars obtained their National Senior Certificate with matric exemption – a number that would surely shame the Department of Education.
The Western Cape has had the best pass rate in the last year. According to reports, the pass rate in the Western Cape in 2012 was definitely an A+ at 82.9%.
I think it is about time South Africa capitalize on their tech-savvy educators to bring the wonderful resources of the Internet to scholars who are hungry to learn.
Lets hope this website does what it‘s supposed to, so every South African child can have a chance at tertiary education.
The National Senior Certificate final exam starts in a little over a month, on October 28.
