Only half of kids make it to matric

While applications for grade 1 and grade 8 overspill every year not even half of the children reach matric. This shocking statistic was revealed by Merle Mansfield, the Programme Director of the Zero Dropout Campaign. Furthermore, school dropout rates reached record highs in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

On the 28 September the Zero Dropout Campaign launched dropout prevention toolkits at their Action Summit. The toolkits are designed to guide schools on how to identify learners who are at risk of dropping out, enabling them to intervene before the learner drops out. The toolkits are based on best practice models of dropout prevention and four years of iterative learning in different school environments. “It provides a range of resources to help schools make a difference in four key areas, including absenteeism tracking and psychosocial support,” says Mansfield.

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