It’s normal in South Africa for almost half of the matric maths group to fail the subject. Last year, 45% of the learners failed maths and the year before that 42% failed.
But learners at fee-paying schools are far more likely to pass maths than learners at no-fee schools. No-fee schools tend to be in low-income and rural areas
In this year’s matric maths exams, half of the learners from no-fee schools passed. In fee-paying schools, two-thirds (68%) passed and in independent (private) schools 72% passed.