South Africa’s matric pass rate rose from 82.9% in 2023 to 87.3% in 2024 – the highest ever in South Africa.
This was announced on 13 January by Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube, in Johannesburg at an awards function for the 39 top achieving learners.
“It is a moment of great pride and celebration for all of us,” said Gwarube.
The Free State was top of the pass rate chart at 91%, KwaZulu-Natal followed at 89.5%, with Gauteng third at 88.4%.
Gwarube emphasised that the Class of 2024 had entered Grade 8 in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, which was a huge disruption to teaching and learning globally.
“They also entered Grade 9 – a key year for subject selection for Grades 10 to 12 – during the pandemic. But they excelled and achieved… the Class of 2024 reflects the resilience of the protea, South Africa’s national flower and a symbol of renewal and strength,” said Gwarube.
She added that violence, gangsterism and protection-fee rackets that terrorise schools had also disrupted learning.
She said 337 158 candidates or 47.8% of the cohort achieved Bachelor passes, an increase from last year’s 40.9%. She added this upward trajectory had been uninterrupted since 2014.
The deputy minister of basic education, Reginah Mahule, had earlier outlined the pass requirements for admission to Bachelor studies. She said a candidate must achieve 40% in a home language, 50% in four other subjects excluding Life Orientation, 30% in the language of learning and teaching, and 30% in one other subject.
Gwarube referred to the sheer magnitude of the logistics of the exams: 50 741 markers, 72 500 invigilators, 6 933 exam centres, as well as 183 marking centres.
She paid tribute to the markers that sadly passed away during this marking season: Lala Maisela, Blessed Mthethwa, Julia Jonas and Nawe Mofokeng.
Gwarube also hosted a celebration on the morning of the results announcement of the 39 top achievers at the MTN Innovation Centre in Johannesburg.
Malwandla Convys Baloyi from Pretoria’s Nuwe Hoop Skool in the Moot, achieved the third best results in the learners with special needs category.
Kagiso Tele from Lesedi Secondary School in Donkerhoek, Pretoria East, won the newly founded Minister’s Award, given to a learner who showed extreme courage in the face of adversity.
The top learner for independent schools is Owethu Shangase from John Wesley Kosi Bay Private School in KwaNgwanase in KwaZulu-Natal. For public schools, the top learner is Rayyan Ebrahim from Pinelands High School in Cape Town.
“We have raised the bar this year,” Mathanzima Mweli, director-general of the Department of Basic Education, said earlier during a technical analysis of the results.
“The class of 2024 was a unique class.”
A total of 724 311 and 705 291 candidates registered for and sat for the exams respectively. while 9 020 or 2.63% missed the exams.
Mweli said the Western Cape achieved the highest pass rate for mathematics, at 78%, followed by the North West, at 73.9%, and then Free State, at 73.2%.
He was proud that 73 out of the 75 teaching districts achieved a pass of 80% and above.
“There are so many achievements. KwaZulu-Natal produced 10.8% distinctions, the highest in the country. A total of 674 schools achieved a 100% pass rate in 2023 and this increased to 902 in 2024,” explained Mweli.
The Independent Examinations Board had earlier in the day announced its own matric results – 98.47% passed, a slight improvement on the 98.46% achieved in 2023.
The board recorded a 89.37% Bachelor’s pass rate compared to 88.59% in 2023.
At least 7.56% of candidates achieved entry to diploma study compared to 8.31% in 2023 said Confidence Dikgole, chief executive officer of the Board, which is an independent assessment body that is separate from the public exams body, which is the Department of Basic Education.
Click here to view the Media briefing: https://web.facebook.com/BasicEd
Click here to see the Minister’s breakfast for top learners:
A silent protest over the Bela Act and teacher job cuts was held during the announcement of the 2024 matric results.
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