The matric pass rate in KwaZulu-Natal decreased to 57.8 percent in 2008 compared to the 63.8 percent pass rate last year, education MEC Ina Cronje said on Tuesday.

She however stressed that this figure should not be compared with last year's figure as it was a different curriculum.

Over 150 000 matriculants in the province wrote the final exam.

African National Congress provincial secretary Senzo Mchunu commended education officials for the smooth running of the matric exams and for no major "irregularities being reported".

"The year of 2008 was long and arduous for these students. The class of 2008 was faced with many challenges as they were the first batch of Grade 12 learners writing the National Senior Certificate examinations based on the new curriculum, but they were able to rise above all odds and did considerably well," he said.

Mchunu also called on parents to be more involved in their children's education.

"In our quest for excellence, the ANC has prioritised education as its main focus for the next five years and to this end we are confident that next year's results will see a dramatic improvement nationally and in the province of KwaZulu-Natal."

To those who did not pass, Mchunu said:"This is not the end of the world. They can still improve their results and further their careers".

The same call was made by ANC president Jacob Zuma during a Christmas party for orphaned children in his hometown of Nkandla on Monday afternoon.

Zuma urged those who did not pass to try again until they succeeded.

"Those who don't (do well), they must not think it's the end of the world...just try again and you will succeed...one time you lose, one time you win...that's how it works," he said.

The provincial health department earlier on Tuesday released festive season figures showing that at least 180 people had taken their own lives during the 2008 holidays.

A health department official, not wanting to be named, said he hoped that suicide figures would drop.

"It's around this time of year, when matriculants don't do well, that we see more suicides.

"It's a tragic waste of human life and we hope that parents whose children have failed, would take it easy on them... Support them and love them. Tell them to try again next time."

Sapa