“The minister met principals and members of the school governing bodies at each school to assess the challenges they face," said his spokesperson Ayanda Shezi.

"The minister indicated that his office would help Grade 12 pupils with study guides so that they can achieve improved matric results in 2011,” said Shezi.

Gigaba was accompanied by Bushbuckridge municipal mayor Milton Morema.

In January last year, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga declared the Bushbuckridge educational region the worst-performing region in the country when it came to the 2009 exams.

According to a report released in November last year by the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, only 3 897 of Bushbuckridge's 13 806 matric pupils passed their 2009 exams. Ninety-two schools achieved a pass rate of less than 30 percent.

Ximoyi High School improved its matric results from 45.1 percent in 2009 to 85.1 percent in 2010.

Dumphries High School produced a pass rate of 12.8 percent in 2009 and 27.7 percent in 2010. - BuaNews