South Africa’s class of 2018 bested last year’s overall matric pass rate by achieving an impressive 78.2% – last year, the average pass rate was 75.1%. These results were announced by the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, in Midrand on Thursday evening, where she was joined by the country’s top achievers.
Approximately 625 000 full-time candidates sat down to write their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations in November 2018, along with 176 000 part-time candidates. However, approximately 512 700 full-time candidates and 117 660 part-time candidates sat for exams on all seven subjects in their NSC exams.
“One of the reasons we are excited about the general upward trend in our Grade 12 results, is that we know this is a manifestation of improvements occurring at all levels of the schooling system,” IOL reported Motshekga as saying. “We will be the first to concede that despite the notable stability of and improvements in the system, we are yet to cross our own Rubicon. We must agree that much has been achieved, but much more needs to be done in the areas of efficiency and quality.”
Gauteng claimed the number one position in the country with a matric pass rate of 87.9%, followed by the Free State with a pass rate of 87.5%.
The Western Cape takes the third position with an 81.5% pass rate.