NATIONAL NEWS - The class of 2023’s overall pass rate was 82.9%, up by 2.8 percentage points from 2022. In 2021, the pass rate was 76.4%.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced the class of 2023’s national and provincial results from Randburg in Gauteng Thursday night.
She praised the learners for their perseverance, saying they had been in the eye of the Covid-19 storm when they were in grades 10 and 11 and lived through riots and socio-economic hardship. Despite this, they diligently worked late into the night and attended classes over weekends.
In 2023, 897 775 full-time and part-time candidates enrolled for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations; 162 question papers were set; 10.2 million question papers were printed; and 9.6 million scripts were produced.
“There was much-improved data collection, data analysis, and data feedback processes within the department, and more importantly, the class of 2023 showed the greatest determination, fortitude and resolve to overcome all odds,” said the minister.
Motshekga said she was pleased that the average age of matriculants is dropping, with 88.2% between the ages of 16 and 20.
Free State first again
The top performing province is the Free State (89.3%), which also took the honours in 2022 and 2021. Following it are KZN (86.4%), Gauteng (85.4%), North West (81.6%), Western Cape (81.5%), Eastern Cape (81.4%, an improvement of 4.1% from 2022), Limpopo (79.5%, a 7.4% improvement from 2022), Mpumalanga (77.0%) and Northern Cape (75.8%).
All provinces reflected an improvement in their pass rates.
The top-performing district is Joburg West in Gauteng.
Motshekga said the provinces’ pass rates do not tell the full story, however. She gave the example of Mpumalanga, which despite being one of the lowest-performing provinces, has one of the highest through-put ratios (fewest drop-outs).
In 2012, 1.2 million learners enrolled for Grade 1. The Department of Basic Education database shows that about 740 566 progressed from Grade 1 in 2012 to Grade 12 in 2023, and only 715 719 full-time candidates enrolled for the NSC exams.
“Some candidates from the class of 2023 might have moved to TVET colleges after passing Grade 9, as the National Qualifications Framework allows for such a movement. We have agreed with the Department of Higher Education and Training to synchronise and align our databases better, so that we can accurately account for learners who choose to take the TVET college pathway,” said Motshekga.
“It is remarkable to note that the Eastern Cape, KZN and Limpopo – the three most rural provinces in the country – produced 50.9% of the total Bachelor passes.”
Motshekga said high-quality passes were achieved this year, ‘especially the record number of bachelor and diploma passes, as well as passes with distinction.
Register to access your matric results easily
Individual learners will get their results tomorrow.
You can easily access your marks by SMSing your exam number to 35658 or dialling the USSD code *120*35658#, after which you will receive reminders and USSD instructions to follow to gain access to your results after 06:00 (or 11:00 for students in the Western Cape) tomorrow.
*SMSes are charged at R1.50 each. Free SMSes do not apply.
*USSD charged at 50c per 20 seconds. Free minutes do not apply.
Interesting stats
- Recent Statistics South Africa surveys reveal that enrolments in early childhood education for five-year-olds have increased from 40% (2002) to 90% (2021).
- Over 98% of learners aged seven to 15 have been attending educational institutions since 2009.
- Six in 10 South Africans complete Grade 12.
- The number of NSC candidates obtaining a bachelor’s pass has nearly tripled since 2008, with the strongest growth coming from no-fee schools.
Article: Caxton publication, The Citizen
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