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Eastern Cape Education MEC, Mandla Makupula, has set a 70% pass rate target for the 2012 matric exams.
Makupula acknowledged that this target is "very ambitious" given potential challenges in the province and the fact that the province had the lowest pass rate last year at 58.1%.
However, he says the Department has done all it could to prepare the ground for this year's matric exams which begin on Monday.
MEC Makupula says they want to benchmark themselves against the 70% national average achieved last year.
"As leaders, educationists and (even) as a human being you must have a target when you work against which you measure your performance. I'm saying we've ambitiously targetted 70% and we are doing every effort to ensure that we reach (that). We don't rule out that challenges are there and they might hinder us but I'm still confident that we will improve on the 58.1% that we got the previous year," he said.
Makupula says throughout the year the Department has been working to ensure that there is support for learners.
He pointed to the Winter and Spring schools where children attended extra classes in the holidays as well as the common assessment test written by Grade 11's to prepare them for matric exams.
MEC Makupula says the printing and distribution of exam papers for the first week of the exams have been completed with necessary security measures implemented at district offices.
He also offered the following message to the 2012 matrics.
"I am saying to the kids keep up the good work you have started despite all the challenges. I wish you all the best in the writing of your exams. Please do take time, even now it's never late, give yourself time to go through your work. You will get the necessary support from the Department and I'm sure the teachers and parents will do that," he said.
"We are looking to a fruitful year with good outcomes."
