Mapping socio-economic status, geographical location and matriculation pass rates in Gauteng, South Africa
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Date
2014
Authors
Pienaar, Richelle
McKay, Tracey Morton
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Education, University of the Free State
Abstract
In South Africa, prior to 1994, the racially defined geographical neighbourhood in
which a child resided usually determined which school they could enrol in. Post 1994,
this changed to legally allow enrolment in any public school. Unfortunately, due to
the legacy of apartheid, in particular, resource allocation inequity, schools in African
areas seldom offered quality education. Thus, African parents seeking quality public
education for their children had to either opt for commuting or moving home, both
options having financial implications. For the purposes of this study, quality education
is defined using three variables: matriculation pass rates, learner-to-teacher ratios,
and quintile rankings, even though use of these variables have their limitations.
Almost two decades since the demise of apartheid, this study found that there is still a
strong relationship between the old ‘apartheid’ geographical zoning, where the right
to reside in an area was previously designated by race, and resourced schooling in
the South African province of Gauteng. It also found a collinear relationship between
resourced schools, teacher-to-learner ratios, school fees and matriculation pass rates.
That is, schools ranked as quintile 4 and 5 schools, which have low teacher-to-learner
ratios and charge more than R6 500 per year in school fees, generally produce high
matriculation pass rates. There were some exceptions, with a few no-fee, quintile
one schools, located in formerly African zoned areas, which also achieved high
matriculation pass rates.
Description
Keywords
Matriculation success, Spatial distribution, Teacher-learner ratios, School fees, Gauteng, Quality education
Citation
Pienaar, R., & McKay, T. M. (2014). Mapping socio-economic status, geographical location and matriculation pass rates in Gauteng, South Africa. Perspectives in Education: Standards in education and training: the challenge, 32(1), 105-123.