Matric Triumphs, Lingering Inequality and Lessons From the Past

Letters to the editor

Matric joy – and the ones left behind

Dear Editor,

Across the country, matriculants are jumping for joy.

After 12 long years behind school desks, they have finally made it. They are free to embark on the next leg of their journey and pursue careers, studies and dreams of a better future.

They shouted, jumped, danced and sang. Some may even have celebrated a little too enthusiastically. Parents, teachers and education officials joined in, beaming with pride. The class of 2025 had done it. With a national pass rate of 88%, they made the country proud.

Yet, in the midst of this celebration, we must not forget those who did not make it.

KwaZulu-Natal also has much to celebrate, topping all provinces with a 90.6% pass rate. This achievement suggests that positive change is taking place in our province and deserves recognition.

However, beneath the euphoria lies an uncomfortable truth: Our education system remains deeply divided in a democratic South Africa. Learners from wealthy families attend well-resourced private schools, while the majority are educated in overcrowded, poorly managed and under-equipped public schools.

The Independent Examinations Board schools achieved an overall pass rate of a staggering 98.4%, a statistic that starkly highlights this inequality.

When I watch young people celebrating today, I reflect on my own matric years. In those days, matric parties were unheard of. There were no gifts for passing matric, let alone cars. Our parents were proud, but celebrations were modest.

Poverty and an unequal education system did not deter us; instead, they strengthened our resolve. Apartheid even shaped the marks non-white learners received. An “A” was rare. Today, distinctions are far more common.Modern matriculants are fortunate. The world lies open before them. More than a million South Africans have left our shores for greener pastures and are thriving abroad.

While we celebrate today’s achievements, we must continue working toward an education system that offers equal opportunity to every learner – not just a fortunate few.

Yours faithfully, | Thyagaraj Markandan Kloof

A nation that is proud of its matrics

The Editor,

The stupendous achievement of the matric class of 2025 defies description.

The nation could not be prouder of this graduating class, particularly for the resilience and determination they displayed while remaining focused on their academic studies under exceptionally challenging conditions.

Greatness is born of excellence, and this supreme quality was vividly demonstrated by the class of 2025. Academic distinctions swept across the country in a glittering display of achievement that will be difficult to emulate. Despite a turbulent global environment and demanding academic circumstances, our learners applied themselves with discipline and perseverance to earn an impressive array of accolades.

As Abigail Adams once observed, “Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with ardour and diligence.” These words ring true today.

As the nation celebrates this success, we must also acknowledge the dedicated teachers who played a critical and pivotal role in guiding learners to this remarkable outcome. Teaching is the foundation of all professions, and every educator is an asset to our country. ‘Their selfless commitment contributes directly to social cohesion, economic development and sustained national growth.

The passion and dedication of our teachers shine like an eternal flame of hope and determination. Any tribute would be incomplete without recognising their valiant efforts and unwavering belief in excellence. Their motto, “Striving for Excellence”, will echo for generations to come.

A grateful nation will not forget the immense contribution made by our teachers, which enabled so many young South Africans to access quality education and realise their potential.

Yours sincerely, | Farouk Araie Benoni

How movies shaped a false worldview

Dear Editor,

Far more than schools, newspapers or books, it was the cinemas of Victoria Street that shaped some of my most lasting perceptions of the world beyond the Grey Street complex.

Many of those perceptions, I now realise, were filled with grand illusions and outright falsehoods.

In hindsight, I was completely duped into believing that everything I saw on the black-and-white, Technicolor or silver screen was absolute truth. One such illusion was the portrayal of indigenous American tribes as “wild savages” who supposedly obstructed the brave efforts of European settlers trying to “tame” the West and bring “civilisation” to an “untamed wilderness”.

One of my favourite frontier heroes was the legendary Davy Crockett, often played by Fess Parker. He was depicted as a noble hunter, tracker and fearless defender of freedom. I remember crying uncontrollably when Crockett and his fellow defenders were killed at the Alamo, overrun by what the films portrayed as ruthless and merciless Mexican soldiers.

Only much later did I realise that I had shed tears for the wrong side. The Alamo stood on Mexican territory, and the American government was attempting to illegally annex land that did not belong to it. The so-called heroes were, in truth, instruments of expansionist ambition. Sadly, this pattern of using ordinary people to do the state’s dirty work is not new.

The echoes are unmistakable today, from America’s unwavering support of Israel’s actions in Palestine and neighbouring states, to modern political ambitions cloaked in patriotic rhetoric. Even now, we see similar impulses in contemporary US politics, where expansionist thinking remains alive and well.

"Remember the Alamo” became a national slogan, but perhaps the real lesson was never learned. I certainly didn’t learn it then – despite watching countless Victoria Street movies. Sadly, it seems some world leaders still haven’t learned it either.

Yours sincerely, | Ebrahim Essa Durban

DAILY NEWS