The Matric Class of 2024 has achieved a historic milestone, recording an overall pass rate of 87.3%—the highest in South Africa’s history. Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, announced the results in Johannesburg, hailing the achievement as a moment of national pride and celebration. A total of 615,429 learners successfully passed the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, a significant increase from previous years and a leap from the 82.9% pass rate in 2023.
Nearly half of the matriculants, 47.8%, qualified for admission to Bachelor studies, marking a notable improvement from 40.9% in 2023. This translated to 337,158 Bachelor passes, more than doubling the 150,752 recorded in 2014. KwaZulu-Natal emerged as the top-performing province, producing 84,470 Bachelor passes, followed by Gauteng with 66,979 and the Eastern Cape with 45,662. Minister Gwarube highlighted that 67% of these Bachelor passes came from Quintile 1 to 3 schools, representing disadvantaged communities, a testament to the increasing opportunities for learners in poorer areas to pursue higher education and professional careers.
The Class of 2024 also delivered outstanding results in terms of distinctions, achieving a total of 319,651, which is 65,000 more than in 2023. Mathematics performance showed encouraging growth, although Physical Sciences saw a slight decline, with a pass rate of 75.6% compared to 76.2% in the previous year. KwaZulu-Natal led in distinctions, followed by the Western Cape and Gauteng, while provinces such as Mpumalanga and Limpopo made notable progress.
Every province improved its pass rate from 2023, with all achieving above 84%. The number of high schools with pass rates between 80% and 100% rose from 4,493 in 2023 to 5,387 in 2024. Participation also grew, with 705,291 learners sitting for the NSC exams, including an increase in the number of candidates with special education needs and those supported by social grants.
Minister Gwarube applauded the maturing education system but emphasized the need for further efforts to strengthen foundational skills in Mathematics and Science to ensure learners are equipped for future challenges. Earlier in the day, the Minister and MTN hosted a breakfast event to honor 39 top achievers, underscoring the importance of celebrating excellence in education.
The 2024 results are a reflection of collective progress and commitment to improving education in South Africa, offering hope for a brighter future for the nation’s youth.
