Minister of Education and Training, Mr Mohlabi Tsekoa, commenting on the Junior Certificate results, said most students seem to have had difficulty in science and mathematics. The Ministry will be looking earnestly into the causes and the way to improve the situation, he said.

A total of 221 candidates obtained first class with distinction, higher than that of 2003 by 63 candidates. There were 987 first class passes, an increase of 193 candidates over the previous year.

Over eight thousand (8036) obtained second class passes which was an increase of 816 over the last examination. Third class passes increased by 135 to 1598 candidates.

The number of students who have failed this year had decreased as compared to 2003. Some 3 504 failed to meet the minimum requirements of the examinations, the Minister said.

14 January 2005