South Africa has recorded its highest matric pass rate in history, with the Class of 2025 achieving an overall pass rate of 88%, surpassing 2024’s 87.3%.
The announcement was made by Siviwe Gwarube, Minister of Basic Education, who described the results as a historic milestone for the country’s schooling system.
A Record Year for the National Senior Certificate
According to the Department of Basic Education (DBE):
- Over 900,000 learners wrote the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations
- Exams were conducted at more than 6,000 examination centres nationwide
- This marks the largest matric cohort in South Africa’s history
Despite the scale and complexity, the system delivered its strongest performance to date.
All Districts Achieve Above 80%
In a major achievement for equity and system-wide improvement:
- All 75 education districts across South Africa recorded pass rates above 80%
This reflects consistent performance across urban, peri-urban, and rural districts, showing progress in closing historical gaps in learner outcomes.
Breakdown of Matric Pass Types (2025)
Minister Gwarube also provided a detailed breakdown of the types of passes achieved:
- 46% Bachelor’s Degree passes
- 28% Diploma passes
- 13.5% Higher Certificate passes
These results mean that nearly half of all successful candidates qualify for university degree studies, while many others are well positioned for diplomas, TVET colleges, and higher certificate pathways.
Provincial Matric Pass Rates for 2025
The DBE released the official provincial breakdown as follows:
- 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%
While all provinces exceeded the 80% mark, KwaZulu-Natal emerged as the top-performing province nationally.
From 87.3% to 88%: A Historic Improvement
For context:
- 2024 matric pass rate: 87.3%
- 2025 matric pass rate: 88%
Although the increase may appear small numerically, it is significant given the size of the 2025 cohort, making this the strongest matric performance ever recorded in South Africa.
What This Means for Learners
The Class of 2025 enters the next phase of their lives with:
- Increased access to university education
- Stronger pathways into TVET colleges and skills training
- Improved prospects for bursaries, NSFAS funding, and employment
Minister Gwarube praised learners, teachers, school leaders, and parents for contributing to this collective achievement.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 matric results represent more than just numbers — they reflect resilience, scale, and sustained improvement across the schooling system. Achieving an 88% pass rate with the largest matric class in history marks a defining moment for basic education in South Africa.
As the Class of 2025 moves forward into higher education, training, and the world of work, this achievement sets a strong foundation for the country’s future.