part a: strategic overview - Department of Education

decreasing trend. For all the years shown, the minimum repetition rate is to be found
around grade 7 peaking in grades 10 and 11.
The average repetition rate for all grades was 11% in both 1999 and 2000 and rose to
12% in 2001 and 2002. The average rate has however started to decline in 2003 and is
currently standing at 9%. In the Primary phase in 2002 Grades 1 and 4 had the highest
repetition rates at 10%. In the secondary phase repetition rates were considerably higher
and tended to peak in the higher grades, particularly Grades 10 and 11. In 2002, one
fifth of learners in Grades 10 and 11 repeated these grades. By Grade 12 the figure had
dropped slightly to 16%.
Table 24: Repetition Rate by Grade
1998* 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 #
G1 13% 10% 9% 10% 10% 7% N/A
G2 12% 10% 8% 9% 9% 6% N/A
G3 12% 10% 10% 10% 9% 6% N/A
G4 13% 11% 11% 12% 10% 7% N/A
G5 12% 10% 9% 10% 9% 6% N/A
G6 10% 9% 8% 8% 7% 5% N/A
G7 10% 9% 8% 7% 6% 5% N/A
G8 16% 13% 13% 14% 8% 8% N/A
G9 15% 12% 12% 13% 12% 7% N/A
G10 23% 16% 18% 20% 20% 20% N/A
G11 23% 17% 18% 22% 22% 19% N/A
G12 27% 19% 18% 16% 16% 11% N/A
Average 14% 11% 11% 12% 12% 9% N/A
*Repetition Rates for 1998 are overestimated due to incomplete enrolment data for 1997. Repetition Rates for 2004
is not yet available. 2005 Data still needs to be captured to calculate 2004.
Table 25 and Graph 9 shows the drop-out rate per grade from 1999 to 2003. The
number of dropouts in the schooling system in the Eastern Cape has steadily increased
from 7% in 1999 to a high of 15% in 2000. From 2001 to 2003 it would seam that the
dropout rate has stabilized at around 11%. Dropouts in the province have the tendency
to peak in the early grades and then again in grades 10-12. This tendency is matched
by the higher repetition rates shown earlier.
Table 25: Drop-out Rate by Grade
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004* Average
G1 15% 20% 25.19% 26.02% 23% N/A 22%
G2 5% 13% 5.32% 6.44% 5% N/A 7%
G3 4% 12% 6.87% 5.92% 4% N/A 7%
G4 4% 12% 6.29% 8.85% 7% N/A 8%
G5 4% 12% 7.48% 7.28% 7% N/A 8%
G6 5% 12% 8.80% 8.13% 7% N/A 8%
G7 1% 10% 8.87% 8.5% 7% N/A 7%
G8 7% 15% 6.24% 14.97% 12% N/A 11%
G9 5% 17% 17.92% 12.80% 2% N/A 11%
G10 15% 23% 18.62% 17.76% 22% N/A 19%
G11 15% 21% 13.02% 10.28% 23% N/A 16%
Average 7% 15% 11% 12% 11% N/A 11%
* 2004 drop out rate is not available. Data will be released after the capturing of the 2005 Annual Survey has been
completed.
5 Year ECDoE Strategic Plan for 2005/06 2005-06 to 2009/10 2009-10. March 21 F (4)Page 2006 75
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