Matric maths and science numbers remain dismally low

Maths and physical science are not popular subjects in South Africa’s high schools. For example, only one in three grade 12s wrote maths and one in four wrote science in the 2021 National Senior Certificate Exams.

Somewhere between grade 8 in 2017, when there were just over 970,000 students enrolled, and grade 12 in 2021, a large portion of children gave up on maths and science, so that by grade 12 only 259,000 wrote maths and 136,000 wrote physical science.

Mathematics

In South Africa, maths is a compulsory subject, but learners can choose to do mathematical literacy, a practical alternative to pure maths. However, maths literacy is not accepted for most science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees.

In 2021, 750,478 learners enrolled in matric, but only 35% of them wrote the final maths exam; 20% of the grade 12s passed, but only 5% passed with 60% or more. That means 5 out of every 100 matrics got a good enough maths mark to do a bachelor of science degree at university.

The Department of Basic Education increased the threshold for maths from 50% to 60% in 2020, according to the NSC 2021 Technical Report. The 60% mark is used by the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, to assess the maths and science marks of learners in line with what is required to get into STEM degrees at university.

Physical science

Physics follows much the same pattern, except fewer learners opt for the subject because it is not compulsory. It is, however, required for many STEM degrees.

Out of the 2021 cohort of matrics who wrote the NSC physical science exam, 18% passed and 15% passed with over 60%.

Four out of every 100 grade 12s got 60% for physics.