Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announces a record 88% matric pass rate for the Class of 2025, describing the results as “earned, not gifted.” Picture Credit: GCIS
By Aisha Zardad
Johannesburg — South Africa’s Class of 2025 has achieved a historic milestone, recording the highest matric pass rate since the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations were introduced. Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube confirmed on 12 January 2026 that the national pass rate reached 88%, marking a significant achievement for the country’s education system. In her official address released by the Department of Basic Education, Gwarube said: “We can have confidence: these results are earned, not gifted. South Africans, we must also put a stubborn myth to rest: 30% is not the matric pass mark.”
More than 900,000 learners sat for the 2025 NSC examinations across nearly 6,000 centres nationwide, making it the largest matric cohort in South Africa’s history. Of these, over 656,000 candidates passed, with the results having undergone quality assurance by Umalusi, the statutory body responsible for maintaining standards in general and further education. According to the minister, the results reflect sustained effort across the education sector, including educators, school leadership, parents and learners themselves.
In an accompanying statement, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) congratulated the Class of 2025, noting that the achievement came despite persistent challenges such as infrastructure backlogs, economic hardship and learning disruptions in several provinces. The department emphasised that the results should be viewed as a collective national achievement rather than the outcome of isolated interventions.
All nine provinces recorded pass rates above 84%, underscoring a broad-based improvement in learner performance. KwaZulu-Natal emerged as the top-performing province, while the Eastern Cape, often highlighted for historical underperformance, recorded notable gains despite ongoing socio-economic and environmental challenges.
| Province | 2025 Matric Pass Rate |
|---|---|
| KwaZulu-Natal | 90.60% |
| Free State | 89.33% |
| Gauteng | 89.06% |
| North West | 88.49% |
| Western Cape | 88.20% |
| Northern Cape | 87.79% |
| Mpumalanga | 86.55% |
| Limpopo | 86.15% |
| Eastern Cape | 84.17% |
Learners welcomed the results with pride and relief. Ethan Neil Naicker, KwaZulu-Natal’s top achiever, described the year as demanding but rewarding. “We can all agree that 2025 was not an easy year. It had its ups and downs, but we persevered. We thank our families and educators for supporting us even when we doubted ourselves,” he said. His remarks reflected the experience of many matriculants who navigated academic pressure and uncertainty throughout the year.
Another high achiever, Wang Kuo-Kung, encouraged future learners to balance preparation with wellbeing, saying consistent practice and adequate rest were key to his success. He plans to pursue Actuarial Sciences at Stellenbosch University, illustrating how strong matric outcomes continue to open pathways to higher education.
Provincial officials also responded to the results. Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane welcomed the province’s 89.06% pass rate, describing it as the product of sustained, system-wide reforms rather than short-term interventions. In KwaZulu-Natal, provincial education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said the province’s strong showing was the result of an academic improvement plan implemented at the start of the year, supported by consistent monitoring and educator support. Political parties also responded to the results. The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomed the outcomes, with spokesperson Nazley Sharif MP noting the resilience of learners, particularly those from no-fee schools and learners facing socio-economic hardship. In an official statement, Sharif said, “These achievements underscore the resilience of South Africa’s young people and the importance of protecting learner opportunity at every stage of the schooling system.” The DA also applauded progress in inclusion, noting improved performance among learners with special education needs, and expressed support for the minister’s evidence-based approach to addressing ongoing challenges in key subjects such as Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
While celebrating the achievement, Minister Gwarube cautioned against complacency. In her statement, she highlighted ongoing disparities linked to poverty, noting that learners dependent on social grants continued to face structural disadvantages. She called for closer collaboration between education and social development departments to address these challenges and warned against politicising education outcomes in ways that could mislead or discourage learners.
As South Africa celebrates its strongest matric performance to date, education authorities have reiterated that the focus must now shift toward strengthening early learning, improving subject outcomes in mathematics and science, and expanding post-school opportunities. The success of the Class of 2025, they say, should serve not only as a moment of pride but as a foundation for long-term educational reform.
