The Department of Basic Education in South Africa recently released the final National Senior Certificate (NSC) results for the 2023 matric year, revealing a noteworthy increase in the pass rate to 82.9%. This marks a 2.8 percentage point improvement, and the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, declared the 2023 cohort as the most resilient yet. Despite facing challenges such as load shedding and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the students demonstrated remarkable perseverance.
Over the last decade, the NSC pass rate has consistently risen, starting from 60% in 2009 and reaching over 80% in 2023. Minister Motshekga emphasized that the matric class of 2023 sustained this upward trajectory, achieving the highest pass rate since the establishment of democracy. A total of 897,000 matrics registered for the exams, with 80% being full-time candidates.
The results showcased a positive trend in various aspects. The number of bachelor passes increased by 10.6%, with a notable improvement in diploma passes as well. Since 2008, bachelor passes have tripled. Out of the 2023 matric class, 40.9% achieved a bachelor’s pass, 27.2% attained a diploma pass, and 14.8% secured a higher certificate pass. This achievement is particularly commendable given the significant disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, starting from their grade 9 year in 2020.
Minister Motshekga provided insights into the scale of the matric examinations, revealing that 897,000 candidates participated, and 162 question papers were set. Over 10.4 million question papers were printed, necessitating the deployment of 72,000 invigilators and 52,000 markers across the country. Interestingly, there was a slight decrease in the number of students who wrote the exams in 2023 compared to 2022, with 897,000 as opposed to 920,000.
The minister also highlighted the improved performance across all provinces, including progressed learners.
The results for each province are as follows:
- Free State (89%)
- KZN (86.4%)
- Gauteng (85.4%)
- North West (81.6%)
- Western Cape (81.5%)
- Eastern Cape (81.4%)
- Limpopo (79.5%)
- Mpumalanga (77%)
- Northern Cape (75.8%).
These positive outcomes underscore the collective efforts to enhance the education system and support students in overcoming challenges.