R521m for infrastructure projects at UFH

Provincial Government is investing R521 million for infrastructure projects at Fort Hare University which includes an Early Childhood Development Centre in East London. This was pronounced during the State of the Province Address.

Access to early childhood development is gaining more momentum and in the increase in the province. It targets the two (2) years of exposure prior to Grade 1 to form a solid foundation for the education of the child in the province. Thousands of ECD Centres have been registered.

investment in education, and with that sustained, the province is pushing towards achievement of the term target of above 80%.

“We have a target of 80% by end of this sixth term as we said in 2019. Commitment and dedication by everyone in the sector, particularly teachers, is marvellous. We are on an upward trajectory even though we have serious infrastructure backlog challenges.” He stated.

Premier Mabuyane further gave special recognition to Alfred Nzo West Education District for its 82, 7% pass rate, the highest in the province for 2022. It is followed by Buffalo City Metro, Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, Chris Hani East, Amathole West and Amathole East.

Eastern Cape matric results have steadily improved over the last few years. The province made a huge jump in 2019 of up to 76.5% pass rate. In 2020, it fell back to 68.1%; a decline that could be attributed to impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on pupils schooling. In 2021 the province soared to 73%, an improvement 0f 4.9% from the previous year’s results.