Though the matric pass rate has risen dramatically this year, maths and science results have left some experts calling the education system "a farce".

Rhoda Kadalie, a member of the Council of the University of Stellenbosch, said yesterday: "South Africa is one of the worst [performers] in the whole world in maths and science."

She said academics had complained to her about "children who can't read, can't write, can't spell and can't do maths".

Nan Yeld, dean of the Centre for Higher Education Development at the University of Cape Town, said Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga has been careful in the phrasing of all her statements about the pass rate.

"It might not be an improvement in quality, just an improvement in the pass rate [quantity]," she said.

"There is a big proportion of students who get very good results [in matric] but find it very difficult in their first year at university."

The matric results were released by the Department of Basic Education last week.

The number of matriculants who passed rose from 60.6% in 2009 to 67.8% in 2010.

The pass rate in maths increased by 1.4% and in science by 11%.

But analysis of the results reveals that only a minority of matrics could obtain more than 40% for maths and science.

• Nationally, 69% of the 263034 matrics who wrote maths scored less than 40%. More than 70% of the 20364 who wrote the physical science exam could not manage more than 40%. Only 23.5% of candidates gained a university exemption;

• In Eastern Cape, 78.6% of the 38801 matrics got a maths mark below 40%. In Limpopo, the figure was 76% of 49912 matrics, and in KwaZulu-Natal 70.5% of 65973;

• The best-performing provinces were Gauteng, where 56.3% of 40024 scored less than 40% in maths, and Western Cape, where 49.3% of 17544 matrics failed to break the 40% barrier;

• In science, Eastern Cape again had the poorest performance, with more than 76% of the 27163 matrics receiving under 40%. Progressively worse were Limpopo (76.1%), Mpumalanga (75.2%) and the Free State (73%). Basic Education spokesman Granville Whittle said yesterday that the department was "obviously very concerned about the quality of passes in the gateway subjects" such as maths, physical science and accounting.

He said these subjects were referred to as "gateway subjects" because they were "critical for the development of the economy" and gave access to a range of careers.

Whittle said the department was analysing the matric results "to determine what needs to be done and what interventions are necessary".

Graeme Bloch, an education analyst, said the maths and science results were "a problem".

"Even if the matric pass rate has gone up from 60% to 67%, it doesn't say we've achieved anything," said Bloch.

He said that the debate should shift from the number of matrics who passed to the "value" of the National Senior Certificate.

"It [the National Senior Certificate] is not good enough to compete. We're not going to get the accountants and engineers we need with these results," said Bloch.

MINIMUM FOR A MATRIC PASS

ACCORDING to Department of Basic Education guidelines, matrics must score the following minimum marks to pass:

• 40% in one of the compulsory official languages at home language level;

• 30% in the other required official language on, at least, first additional language level.

• 30% in mathematical literacy or mathematics.

• 40% in life orientation.

• 40% in one of the remaining three subjects, and at least 30% in two others.