A source of major concern for our country – how can you build a country without maths?

(via Eng News)

While the overall pass rate for matriculants had increased, the number of students who sat the mathematics paper and then passed, dropped in 2010, the basic education department said on Thursday.

Basic education director generalBobby Soobrayan told media in Pretoria that the drop in the number of pupils writing mathematics was a concern.

According to the Report on the National Senior Certificate Examinations, 263,034 pupils wrote the mathematics paper in 2010, which was 38,620 fewer than in 2009 — or a 14 percent drop.

Some 300,829 wrote the mathematics paper in 2008.

Soobrayan said that while the overall pass rate of those achieving 30 percent or more had increased slightly to 47,4%, it was disappointing that fewer pupils had taken the subject.

The number of candidates who achieved a pass rate of 40% and above — the pass rate required to be considered for university entrance — dropped from 90 699 candidates in 2009 to 81 374 candidates in 2010 — or a fall of 10,2%.

Only 30,9% of candidates achieved a mark above 40%.

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/fewer-matrics-taking-passing-maths-2011-01-06