Manamela said the\u00a0National Senior Certificate (NSC) results<\/a>\u00a0mark the beginning of a new phase of learning, skills development and personal growth.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Don\u2019t go to campus unless accepted, watch out for bogus colleges: Buti ManamelaOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n January 13 2026, 13:39SA\u2019s 88% matric pass rate sparks political debate about \u2018real\u2019 results<\/p>\n While the country celebrates the achievements of the matric class of 2025, the record-breaking 88% pass rate has drawn sharp criticism from several political parties.<\/p>\n Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube announced the official National Senior Certificate (NSC) results on Monday, marking the highest pass rate in the history of South Africa\u2019s education system.<\/p>\n Of the 921,000 pupils who sat for the 2025 examinations, 345,000 achieved bachelor\u2019s passes. However, the results were tempered by a decline in the mathematics pass rate, which dropped from 69% in 2024 to 64% in 2025.<\/p>\n [\u00a0SA\u2019s 88% matric pass rate sparks political debate about \u2018real\u2019 resultsOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n January 13 2026, 12:03IN PICS | \u2018Matric was a blast\u2019: National top achievers share secrets of success<\/p>\n South Africa\u2019s matric class of 2025 has delivered another strong showing in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams with an 88% pass rate, up from 87.3% in 2024 and 82.9% in 2023. KwaZulu-Natal led the pack as the best-performing province.<\/p>\n One of the biggest highlights of the results is Abigail Kok from York High School in George in the Western Cape, who was named the top achiever among public school pupils nationally. She also achieved first place in physical sciences and in quintile 5 schools. She said the secret to her success was consistency and balance.<\/p>\n [\u00a0IN PICS | \u2018Matric was a blast\u2019: National top achievers share secrets of successOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n January 13 2026, 11:53Reddam House\u2019s Rethabile Mashego triumphs with eight distinctions<\/p>\n For Reddam House Waterfall matriculant Rethabile Mashego, who bagged an impressive eight distinctions, the class of 2025 results are more than numbers on a statement, they are a testament to growth, faith, humility and a deeply rooted desire to serve others.<\/p>\n Mashego\u2019s academic achievement crowns a year she describes as the \u201ceasiest\u201d and most challenging of her schooling career. Like many top achievers, she entered matric with confidence after years of consistent excellence. However, matric, she soon discovered, was a different ball game altogether.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Reddam House\u2019s Rethabile Mashego triumphs with eight distinctionsOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n January 13 2026, 11:11Soweto\u2019s Siza Gule heading to Harvard after achieving 94% matric aggregate<\/p>\n Siza Gule, 18, from Soweto, will be flying to the US later this year to study law and politics at Harvard University after bagging nine distinctions and achieving a 94% aggregate in his matric results.<\/p>\n The teenager, who studied at St John\u2019s College in Johannesburg, secured a scholarship and acceptance at one of the world\u2019s most prestigious universities and can\u2019t wait to spread his wings.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Soweto\u2019s Siza Gule heading to Harvard after achieving 94% matric aggregateOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n January 13 2026, 09:54INFOGRAPHIC | Matric class of 2025 achieves 88% overall pass rate, highest so far<\/p>\n The class of 2025 has achieved an overall pass rate of 88% for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, with KwaZulu-Natal being the top province.<\/p>\n This is a slight improvement from the 2024 cohort, which achieved 87.3%, and 82.9% in 2023.<\/p>\n Announcing the results in Johannesburg on Monday, basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube said: \u201cThis was the largest class in history to sit for the final results. We are reaching more pupils in grade 12. The story [of this cohort] begins in 2014, a story of resilience, including having gone through Covid-19.\u201d<\/p>\n [\u00a0INFOGRAPHIC | Matric class of 2025 achieves 88% overall pass rate, highest so farOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n January 13 2026, 09:25Record matric pass rate masks decline in maths uptake and performance<\/p>\n Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube has candidly acknowledged the deep challenges facing South Africa\u2019s school system, saying it is still failing to produce enough pupils with critical maths skills.<\/p>\n On Monday night she announced the results of the national senior certificate (NSC) exams, which recorded a historic 88% pass rate \u2014 the highest since the advent of democracy in 1994.<\/p>\n \u201cJust 162,947 students achieved 30% or higher for maths, a sharp decline on the 173,774 who attained this threshold in 2024.\u201d<\/p>\n [\u00a0 Record matric pass rate masks decline in maths uptake and performanceOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n January 13 2026, 09:14Januery 13 January 2026, 08:17\u2018Refrain from populism\u2019: Minister Gwarube debunks \u201930% pass mark\u2019 myth<\/p>\n Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube has called on political parties to stop spreading the misleading perception that 30% is the official matric pass mark.<\/p>\n Speaking at the release of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results on Monday, Gwarube warned the persistent myth could discourage pupils from striving for excellence.<\/p>\n \u201cSouth Africans, we must put a stubborn myth to rest: 30% is not the matric pass mark,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n [\u00a0\u2018Refrain from populism\u2019: Minister Gwarube debunks \u201930% pass mark\u2019 mythOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n January 12 2026 18:58JUST IN | Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube has announced a national matric pass rate of 88% for 2025, the highest in the country\u2019s history.<\/p>\n \u201cTo the class of 2025 I say, congratulations on breaking the record of the highest pass rate in South Africa,\u201d Gwarube said. <\/p>\n Here is how the provinces fared:January 12 2026 18:00WATCH LIVE | Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube announces 2025 NSC matric results<\/p>\n Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube is on Monday announcing the matric results for the 2025 class.<\/p>\n The Independent Examination Board (IEB) announced a 98.31% overall pass rate for the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.<\/p>\n [\u00a0WATCH LIVE | Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube announces 2025 NSC matric resultsOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Reddam House\u2019s Rethabile Mashego triumphs with eight distinctions<\/p>\n For Reddam House Waterfall matriculant Rethabile Mashego, who bagged an impressive eight distinctions, the Class of 2025 results are more than just numbers on a statement; they are a testament to growth, faith, humility and a deeply rooted desire to serve others.<\/p>\n Rethabile\u2019s academic achievement crowns a year she describes as both the \u201ceasiest\u201d and the most challenging of her schooling career. Like many top achievers, she entered matric with confidence after years of consistent excellence. But matric, she soon discovered, was a different ball game altogether.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Reddam House\u2019s Rethabile Mashego triumphs with eight distinctionsOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n January 12 2026 16:38<\/p>\n Matric results: what your pass level means<\/p>\n As the matric class of 2025 prepares to receive their results, understanding your pass level is essential for choosing the right higher education path.<\/p>\n The Independent Examinations Board<\/a>(IEB) results were released on Monday, whileNational Senior Certificate<\/a>(NSC) candidates will receive their individual results this Tuesday.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Matric results: what your pass level meansOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n January 12 2026 15:54<\/p>\n Department has constitutional obligation to place all learners, says Gwarube as 23,000 await school placements<\/p>\n As parents scramble to find placements<\/a> for their children just two days before schools reopen, minister of basic education Siviwe Gwarube<\/a> said the department is constitutionally obliged to ensure that pupils are placed in schools<\/a>.<\/p>\n This comes as 23,000 learners nationwide still don\u2019t have space. There are about 4,800 unplaced pupils in Gauteng, 9,000 in Mpumalanga, and 7,000 in the Western Cape, while Limpopo sits at 1,300 learners who are yet to get schools.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Department has constitutional obligation to place all learners, says Gwarube as 23,000 await school placementsOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n January 12 2026 15:47<\/p>\n Differently abled pupils shine among top 40 achievers<\/p>\n Differently abled matriculants claimed their place among the 40 top achievers recognised at the 2025 ministerial breakfast on Monday.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Differently abled pupils shine among top 40 achieversOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n January 12 2026 15:30<\/p>\n Sacred Heart College celebrates 100% matric pass and top 1% national achievers<\/p>\n Sacred Heart College in Observatory, north-east of Johannesburg, has announced a 100% matric pass rate for its Class of 2025, with several pupils ranking in the top 1% nationally in Independent Examination Board (IEB) subjects.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Sacred Heart College celebrates 100% matric pass and top 1% national achieversOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n January 12 2026 14:55<\/p>\n Top IEB schools in Gauteng celebrate outstanding 2025 matric results<\/p>\n Two Independent Examinations Board (IEB) schools in Gauteng, Redhill School and Saheti School, have celebrated exceptional results for the class of 2025, with high distinction rates and top individual performances.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Top IEB schools in Gauteng celebrate outstanding 2025 matric resultsOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n WATCH | IEB learners have achieved a 98.31% pass rate in the 2025 matric exams. DBE minister Siviwe Gwarube hosted the Top 40 achievers for breakfast in Randburg Monday morning. <\/p>\n Video: Sinazo Kos pic.twitter.com\/MpslRMzpiY<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) January 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n January 12 2026, 14:04<\/p>\n Expert warns against oversimplifying SA\u2019s matric success<\/p>\n With the imminent release of the 2025 matric results, SA could edge closer to a 90% national pass rate, with some provinces aiming even higher.<\/p>\n Education experts caution, however, that while such a milestone may indicate improved learner support, the pass rate alone provides a limited view of whether pupils are leaving school with the skills necessary to succeed beyond matric.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Expert warns against oversimplifying SA\u2019s matric successOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n January 12 2026, 12:45Gwarube highlights dedication, resilience of class of 2025<\/p>\n \u201cIn a system often under strain, you continue to push forward. You show up with commitment, creativity, and courage.\u201d<\/p>\n This was the congratulatory message for the class of 2025 by the department of basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube on Monday, as the national results are to be released.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Gwarube highlights dedication, resilience of class of 2025Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n January 12 2026, 11:53Gwarube praises top matric achievers for \u2019boulder pushing\u2019 perseverance<\/p>\n The minister of basic education has praised SA\u2019s top 40 matric achievers for their discipline and perseverance on Monday while celebrating the class of 2025 during the ministerial breakfast in Randburg.<\/p>\n Minister Siviwe Gwarube said their success was earned through sustained effort rather than privilege.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Gwarube praises top matric achievers for \u2019boulder pushing\u2019 perseveranceOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n January 12 2026, 10.50amIEB achieves 98.31% pass rate in 2025 matric exams<\/p>\n The Independent Examination Board (IEB) has announced a 98.31% overall pass rate for the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams.<\/p>\n All candidates who passed the IEB NSC exams achieved a qualification that allows access to post-school education:<\/p>\n 89.12% qualified for degree study, slightly down from 89.37% in 2024;7.83% achieved diploma-level entry, up from 7.56% the year before;1.34% qualified for higher certificate; and0.02% achieved an endorsed NSC.January 12 2026, 11amMatric results don\u2019t define pupils\u2019 futures, experts say<\/p>\n As the grade 12 class of 2025 awaits its much-anticipated matric results, experts are urging pupils to remember that these marks do not define their worth or determine the entirety of their future.<\/p>\n Roshni Parbhoo-Seetha, education project manager at the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, said pupils should not view their results as a final judgment on their intelligence or potential.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Matric results don\u2019t define learners\u2019 future, experts sayOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Makhanda schools excel in Cambridge A Levels<\/p>\n The sixth cohort of Diocesan School for Girls (DSG) and St Andrew\u2019s College\u2019s Cambridge International A Levels have upheld the stellar performance of previous years with a strong set of results from the November 2025 exams.<\/p>\n DSG\u2019s director of advancement, Victoria Mallet, said 14 pupils completed the Cambridge International A Levels, achieving results that exceeded expectations and reflected a year of disciplined academic focus and resilience.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Makhanda schools excel in Cambridge A LevelsOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n TimesLIVE<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/RCFCTE6KJ5F7VD3UCI5COGKPC4.png\")
Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube has announced a national matric pass rate of 88% for 2025, the highest in the country\u2019s history. (SUPPLIED) <\/p>\n