Free State Drops
By Thabo Mosia
South Africa’s class of 2025 has set a new benchmark in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams, achieving an impressive overall pass rate of 88%—the highest in the country’s history.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube made the announcement on Monday, 12 January 2026, highlighting the hard work of learners, teachers, and families amid ongoing challenges in the education system.
This marks a slight rise from the 87.3% pass rate in 2024, with KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) emerging as the top-performing province at 90.60%, dethroning the Free State, which slipped to second place with 89.33%.
The results come from the largest matric cohort ever, with over 900,000 candidates sitting for exams at more than 6,000 centres nationwide.
This achievement reflects improvements in access to education, but experts warn that high dropout rates and systemic issues continue to cast a shadow over the celebrations.
As the nation reflects on these outcomes, calls for better quality and equity in basic education grow louder, especially with local government elections looming.
National Overview of the 2025 Matric Results
The 2025 matric pass rate of 88% is a milestone, surpassing previous records and showing progress in South Africa’s public education system.
According to the Department of Basic Education (DBE), all 75 education districts across the country achieved pass rates above 80%, a first in the democratic era.
This broad success indicates stronger support structures at the local level, from rural areas to urban hubs.
Breaking down the passes, 46% of successful candidates qualified for bachelor’s degree studies at universities, 28% earned diploma passes, and 13.5% secured higher certificate qualifications.
These figures suggest that more learners are reaching higher levels of achievement, opening doors to tertiary education and better job prospects.
However, Minister Gwarube stressed that the pass rate alone does not tell the full story, pointing to deeper problems like unequal resources between provinces and schools.
In comparison to 2024, when the Free State led with 91%, the overall national improvement is modest but steady.
Education analysts attribute the gains to enhanced teacher training, better exam preparation programmes, and increased use of technology in classrooms, such as online resources during disruptions like load-shedding.
Provincial Breakdown: KZN Shines While Others Make Strides
For the first time in recent years, KwaZulu-Natal has claimed the top spot with a 90.60% pass rate, showcasing strong performances in key subjects like mathematics and physical sciences.
The Free State, last year’s leader, followed closely at 89.33%, with Gauteng rounding out the top three at 89.06%.
Other provinces also showed solid results:
- North West: 88.49%
- Western Cape: 88.20%
- Northern Cape: 87.79%
- Mpumalanga: 86.55%
- Limpopo: 86.15%
- Eastern Cape: 84.17%
Every province improved or maintained high standards, with the Eastern Cape making notable gains from its 2024 rate of around 81%. These rankings highlight regional differences, often linked to factors like infrastructure, teacher shortages, and socio-economic conditions. For instance, KZN’s success has been credited to targeted interventions in underperforming schools and community involvement in education drives.
In rural provinces like Limpopo and Mpumalanga, where access to quality resources can be limited, the results demonstrate resilience among learners facing daily challenges such as long commutes and limited electricity. Overall, the provincial spread shows a more balanced national picture, with no region falling below 84%.
IEB Results: Slight Dip but Still Outstanding
The Independent Examinations Board (IEB), which mainly serves private schools, reported a pass rate of 98.31% for its 2025 matric class—a minor decrease from 98.47% in 2024. Over 17,143 candidates sat for these exams, up from previous years as more schools join the IEB network. Of these passes, 89.12% were at bachelor’s level, slightly down from 89.37% last year.
IEB CEO Confidence Dikgole downplayed the drop, explaining that small fluctuations are normal in stable assessment systems and are seen internationally. “As we add more schools, these variations are expected and do not signal any decline in quality,” Dikgole said. The IEB’s rigorous standards continue to prepare students well for university, with high achievements in advanced subjects like additional mathematics and life sciences.
Compared to the DBE’s public system, the IEB’s results underscore the advantages of smaller class sizes and better-funded facilities in independent schools. However, Dikgole noted that the board is working to expand access, partnering with more community-based institutions to bridge the gap.
Addressing Challenges: High Dropout Rates and System Quality
While celebrating the successes, Minister Gwarube was candid about the education system’s flaws. South Africa grapples with one of the highest school dropout rates globally, with many learners not reaching matric due to poverty, family pressures, or inadequate early education. “The pass rate does not accurately reflect the quality of the nation’s basic education system,” she said, urging a focus on the full journey from Grade R.
Gwarube debunked claims by opposition parties that the pass rate is inflated by a low 30% threshold, clarifying that learners must meet a three-tiered set of subject requirements, including passing home language at 40% and other subjects at varying levels. This ensures a more robust qualification than critics suggest.
To tackle these issues, the DBE is prioritising early childhood development, aiming for all children to read for meaning by Grade 4. Other initiatives include revising progression policies to reduce grade repetition and investing in teacher support programmes. These steps align with national goals to cut unemployment, as better education leads to skilled workers in sectors like technology and agriculture.
Exam Integrity Under Scrutiny: The Pretoria Leak
The 2025 exams were not without controversy, as a leak in Pretoria affected around 40 pupils in English, Mathematics, and Physical Science papers. The incident came to light when markers noticed discrepancies aligned with the marking guidelines, prompting a swift DBE investigation. One suspended official had a child among the exam writers, raising questions about internal controls.
The leak sparked debates on the government’s handling of exams, with the VF+ (Vryheidsfront Plus) party criticising it as a blow to public trust. They called for reducing the DBE’s monopoly on final assessments, suggesting schools should choose independent boards to maintain standards. “Parents will start looking into independent education if the government can’t get its ducks in a row,” a VF+ spokesperson said.
Umalusi, the quality assurance body, reassured the public that the overall integrity of the results remains intact, as the leak was isolated and quickly contained. No widespread impact was detected, and affected papers were handled through standard protocols, including possible rewrites for those involved.
DBE’s Defence and Future Outlook
In response, the DBE emphasised that the incident actually proves the system’s strength, as its own markers flagged the issue promptly. “The leak was contained to only 40 students, who make up a tiny percentage of the total matric cohort,” officials noted. They highlighted that more independent schools use DBE services than the IEB or the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI), underscoring the national board’s credibility.
The department rejected calls to relinquish its mandate, calling them “short-sighted and impractical.” “They undermine the efforts and resources invested in building a national examination system that is legally sound, internationally benchmarked, and recognised nationally and internationally,” the DBE stated.
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