AfriForum Youth challenges Minister to retake learner’s licence test amid surge in fail rate

AfriForum Youth has challenged Barbara Creecy, Minister of Transport, to retake the learner’s licence test given that the new computerised tests have seemingly made it impossible for young people to obtain a learner’s licence. According to reports, the national pass rate for this test has dropped by almost 30% while some provinces have reported pass rates as low as 17%. AfriForum Youth believe the Minister should put her own knowledge of the rules of the road to the test to prove that this system is indeed fair. Moreover, AfriForum Youth will take this test alongside the Minister to provide insights into the experiences of thousands of young people with the new system.

Hanno Koster, Youth Leader of AfriForum Youth, says any initiative aimed at eliminating corruption and improving the integrity of this testing process is a welcome development. However, the system must still ensure that a candidate’s knowledge of the rules of the road is genuinely tested, rather than testing their ability to interpret a complicated or ambiguous question.

Numerous young people who have approached AfriForum Youth about this issue claim that some questions are ambiguous and that, as a result, they had to take the learner’s licence test several times before eventually passing it.

“It is undoubtedly in the public interest to ensure that drivers have a thorough knowledge of the rules of the road. However, the alleged decline in pass rates raises valid questions about whether the current system is achieving its objectives without creating a range of obstacles for prospective drivers,” says Koster.

“It is therefore important that the reasons for this apparent decline are clearly communicated, as well as the measures in place to ensure that the current system is fair, transparent and accessible.”

In its letter to the Minister, AfriForum Youth asked, among other things, about the updating and translation of the current study material; whether an independent investigation into the fail rates has been conducted; and whether the wording of certain questions may be unfairly disadvantaging competent candidates.

“For many young people, a learner’s licence is the first step they take towards accessing further training, pursuing employment opportunities and gaining independence. While we welcome measures that strengthen the integrity of the system, the public also deserves assurance that the system is fair, that the study material is adequate and that candidates are assessed within reasonable limits on the basis of their knowledge of the rules of the road,” Koster concludes.