Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced that the 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) matric class achieved a pass rate of 87.3%.
She said this was a year-on year increase.
In 2023, the pass rate was 82.9%, and in 2022 it was 80.1%. In 2021, the pass rate was 76.4%.
Gwarube said every province achieved above 84% pass rate.
Matric Results: 'Highest pass rate in the history of our country' as class of 2024 scores 87.3%
On Monday night, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced the 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) matric results which showed a historic pass rate of 87.3%
Read the full story here.
The Matric Class of 2024 achieves an 87.3% pass rate, an increase from 82.9% in 2023.
🎥 Simon Majadibodu/IOL #southafrica 🇿🇦 #MatricResults2024 pic.twitter.com/tloDMVErX1
Provincial improvement a sign that the schooling system is maturing
"At a provincial level, I am pleased to announce that every province improved on its performance from 2023 and every province achieved above 84%," Gwarube said.
Free State is the best performing province at 91%, increasing its pass rate from 89% in 2023.
KwaZulu-Natal was the second best performing province with a pass rate of 89.5%, an increase of 3.2% from 2023.
Gauteng was at number three, and increased its pass rate to 88.4% in 2024 from 85.4% in 2023.
North West was number 4 with 87.5%, which represents an increase of 5.9% from 2023.
The Western Cape was fifth with a pass rate of 86.6%, which represents an increase of 5% from 2023.
She said the three remaining provinces all received a "rounded off pass rate of 85%".
"However, they are ranked according to highest raw percentage points achieved," she said.
Limpopo came in at number 6, with a pass rate of 85.01%. This represents an increase of 5.5% from 2023.
Mpumalanga was number seven with a pass rate of 84.99% - a significant increase of 8% from 2023.
Eastern Cape achieved a pass rate of 84.98% and came in at number 8 with a 3.6% increase from 2023.
Most improved province
Northern Cape was number 9 with a 84.2% pass rate.
"It is also important to add that the Northern Cape is the most improved province."
The Northern Cape saw and increase of 8.3% from 2023.
"No-fee schools improved their pass rate from 81% in 2023 to 85.8% in 2024.This too is another sign that our schooling system is maturing," Gwarube said.
[WATCH]: @DBE_SA Minister @Siviwe_G has announced that South Africa’s 2024 Matric Pass Rate is 87.3%, the highest matric pass rate in the history of our country.
— Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) January 13, 2025
Gauteng’s Class of 2024 achieved an exceptional pass rate of 88.4%, third highest in the country and an increase from… pic.twitter.com/qeTzn0gPBz
Bachelor passes
KwaZulu-Natal achieved the highest number of Bachelor passes with over 84,000.
Gauteng achieved over 66,000 and the Eastern Cape over 45,000.
Life after matric: uncovering the hidden challenges faced by South African students
For many South African students, matric results are seen as a pivotal moment that determines the trajectory of their future.
However, the journey after matric often reveals that life is far more complex than grades on a piece of paper.
Transitioning from school to adulthood can be exciting but it can also be overwhelming and filled with unexpected lessons and challenges.
Read the full story here.
For many South African students, matric results are seen as a pivotal moment that determines the trajectory of their future. However, the journey after matric often reveals that life is far more complex than grades. #MatricResults #ClassOf2024
— IOL Lifestyle (@IOL_Lifestyle) January 13, 2025
Read onhttps://t.co/bbSIXJh2QG pic.twitter.com/OSz0J4lHYv
📺 Reaction to the announcement of matric results: The DA welcomes Minister Gwarube’s proposed strategic reorientation towards early childhood development and the foundation phase, as well as her intention to develop systems to track each learner’s path through basic education. pic.twitter.com/HcimQ3Z0rJ
The EFF Congratulates the Matric Class of 2024 for achieving an 87.3% Pass Rate!
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) January 13, 2025
We wish you well and encourage all of you to pursue education in institutions of higher learning, and look for the red table and red flag of the EFF for assistance with any challenges.
Education… pic.twitter.com/2w30dIo7kF
We should be worried.
— Mmusi Maimane MP (@MmusiMaimane) January 13, 2025
Here is the real gap in our education system that needs to be addressed. The private schools got 89.37 percent of their pupils to achieve a university entrance pass.
While the government schools got 47.8% university acceptance level passes while the… pic.twitter.com/QFuc706Kap
The Minister of Basic Education, Ms @Siviwe_G stated, "The Class of 2024's achievements highlight the importance of a healthy basic education system. With 12.7 million learners, 740,000 independent schools, and 460,000 educators, education is a massive undertaking for a… pic.twitter.com/PZZYZxsrE2
[WATCH] Minister Gwarube says KwaZulu Natal achieved the highest number of Bachelor passes with over 84 000, followed by Gauteng with over 66 000 and the Eastern Cape with over 45 000. pic.twitter.com/PzkLRvzDa5
— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 13, 2025
The ceremony will be held in Randburg, Johannesburg where top achievers will also be announced. Parents, guardians, teachers and all education departments across will be present.
The 2024 results follow a legal battle between the Information Regulator (IR) and the department that the results should not be published.
The results will indicate whether the Class of 2024 has improved on the 82.9% pass rate from the Class of 2023.
The 2023 group recorded the highest rate since the dawn of democracy. The overall matric pass rate for 2022 was recorded at 80.1%, reflecting a 3.7% increase compared to the pass rate achieved by the Class of 2021.
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