The 2023 matric results have been widely welcomed with many praising the class for having survived in particular covid-19 and the accompanying lockdown among others.
Political parties and education stakeholders say the results are something for South Africans to be proud of.
Basic education minister Angie Motshekga announced on Thursday that the country had achieved a pass rate of 82.9 percent, a two percent growth from the previous year and the highest in the history of the National Senior Certificate exam.
“Bachelor passes as well as passes with distinction produced by the Class of 2023, stand out as the highest in the history of NSC exams.
“The pass rate of the 2023 NSC exams in number is the second highest in the history of the NSC exams; when expressed as a percentage, the pass rate of the 2023 NSC exams, is the highest in the history of the NSC so far,” said Motsheka while announcing the results in Randburg, Johannesburg.
The general secretary of national association of school governing bodies Matakanye Matakanya says the country is near a hundred percent pass rate.
“We congratulate the class of 2023 for this amazing achievement. I think we are near a hundred percent pass rate. This particular cohort of learners stand out as they have to endure the worst including covid and the unrest ( July 2021 unrest that gripped KZN and Gauteng)
We congratulate the minister, teachers and other stakeholders for a job well done,” he said.
Free State continues to lead the pack with 89 percent, followed by KZN as well as Gauteng respectively while none of the bottom ranking provinces got less than 70 percent. ( See below)
𝐅𝐒: 𝟖𝟗.𝟎%, KZ𝐍: 𝟖𝟔.𝟒%, 𝐆𝐏: 𝟖𝟓.𝟒%, 𝐍𝐖: 𝟖𝟏.𝟔%, 𝐖𝐂: 𝟖𝟏.𝟓%, 𝐄𝐂: 𝟖𝟏.𝟒%, 𝐋𝐌:𝟕𝟗.𝟓%, 𝐍𝐂: 𝟕𝟕.𝟎%, 𝐌𝐏: 𝟕𝟓.𝟖%
SADTU General Secretary Mugwena Maluleke said the class of 2023 showed resilience in that learners had limited time as a result of prolonged lockdown among others. “The class of 2023 defied the odds. To think they managed to learn the entire syllabus of grade 12 in significantly reduced period tells you of their strength and courage, we congratulate them,” he said.
The EFF said in a statement the class of 2023 faced the worst challenges but still emerged successful.
The party said hailed the learners for “showcasing dedication and resilience in their academic pursuits. Despite facing the challenges of 332 out of 365 days of load shedding, along with dilapidated and overcrowded classrooms, and inadequate access to decent drinking water and sanitation in schools, you managed to accomplish this.”
Baxolile Nodada, the DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education said “ We congratulate the class of 2023. Most of these learners had to overcome great challenges.”