Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read

13 January 2025 | 22:15 CAT

EE Equalisers and Leadership hold placards in silent protest during the matric results announcement, demanding action against teacher cuts and education inequalities.

South Africa’s Class of 2024 achieved an unprecedented 87.3% matric pass rate, marking the highest since the country’s democratic dawn. Announced in Randburg on Monday evening by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, the results showcased a 4.4% improvement from the previous year, with the Free State leading at 91%, followed by KwaZulu-Natal (89.5%) and Gauteng (88.4%).

However, while celebrating this achievement is well-deserved, Equal Education (EE) used the announcement as a platform to protest the persisting crises within the education system. At the event, EE Equalisers and members staged a silent demonstration, holding placards to spotlight severe issues such as austerity measures, teacher cuts, infrastructure failures, and dropout rates, which disproportionately affect black and poor learners in rural areas.

The protest took a dramatic turn as Equalisers and EE members who raised placards inside the venue were removed, interrogated, and intimidated by authorities. Leadership reported that one member’s cell phone was confiscated and later returned. Following the incident, EE took to Instagram to condemn the actions: “Our Equalisers and leadership were intimidated and interrogated for a peaceful demonstration to raise urgent issues of education injustice. In September, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube refused to meet her constituency – learners – at her doorstep. She continues to avoid engaging, hiding in the ivory tower at Struben Street. We will not tire from bringing the demands of #equalisers to your front door.”

The timing of the protest was deliberate, drawing attention to the disconnect between the celebrated results and the harsh realities many learners face. EE highlighted the devastating impact of austerity measures and teacher cuts, which have left thousands of classrooms overcrowded and under-resourced. Over 2,000 teacher posts have been slashed in the Western Cape, making effective learning increasingly difficult.

Another critical issue raised was South Africa’s grade 2 throughput rate. EE’s data revealed that only 56% of learners who started grade 2 a decade ago completed matric this year. “Dropout is not a single event but the result of a continuous process of disengagement,” EE explained, urging the government to address the systemic challenges that push learners out of the education system.

The throughput rate graph reveals the harsh reality: only 56% of learners who started Grade 2 ten years ago made it to matric. Equal Education calls for urgent action to address systemic inequalities and uphold every learner’s right to quality education.

Researcher Stacey Jacobs reaffirmed the importance of the protest: “While we celebrate the incredible achievements of the Class of 2024, we cannot overlook the conditions many learners endure daily. Learners need infrastructure that is fit for purpose.”

EE’s protest calls for a renewed commitment to the right to proper education, which is not just about achieving results but ensuring every learner has access to dignified schools, qualified teachers, and infrastructure supporting their full potential. The government must prioritize addressing these deep inequalities, as every learner deserves the chance to thrive in a system that respects their rights and empowers their future.