Which province has the highest matric pass rate 2023 2024?

The Free State led with an 89.0% pass rate, a 0.5% increase from 2022. KwaZulu-Natal followed as the third most improved province, achieving 86.4%, a 3.4% increase from 2022, and Gauteng secured third place at 85.4%, a 1.0% increase from 2022.

The matric class of 2023 has set a new benchmark with an impressive 82.9% pass rate on the National Senior Certificate (NSC), marking a significant improvement compared to the 2022 rate of 80.1%.

This achievement is the highest in the history of the qualification to date.

At least 897 775 full-time and part-time candidates enrolled for the 2023 NSC examinations, yielding an increased number of Bachelor passes and a notable rise in distinctions, making it the highest in the history of these exams.

Announcing the results on Thursday at the Mosaïek Church in Randburg, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said the number of NSC candidates obtaining Bachelor passes, with the most substantial growth observed in “no fee” schools.

This growth underscores the equitable nature of the improvements in the education system.

Motshekga discussed the transformation in the distribution of Bachelor passes, stating:

“Research tells us that in 2005, 60% of the Bachelor’s passes came from the best-performing 20% of the schooling system. However, with the introduction by government of its ‘pro-poor’ policies, which were supplemented with the strengthening and diversification of the curriculum, around 2015, the system managed to produce 51% of Bachelor passes from the schools that in the past, were poorly performing.”

She further noted that this percentage has increased to more than 65% during the 2023 NSC exams.

The minister said the 2023 NSC passes for quintiles 1-3 schools stand at 379 917, with 174 676 learners achieving Bachelor passes.

Since 2009, the NSC pass rate has consistently risen from 60% to above 80%, with Minister Motshekga commending the Class of 2023 for maintaining this positive trend despite facing considerable challenges.

She announced that none of the provinces recorded a pass rate below 75%, and all provinces showed improvement when comparing their 2023 NSC exam results with those of the previous year.

North-West achieved 81.6%, an increase of 1.8% from 2022, while the Western Cape achieved 81.5%, an increase of 0.1% from 2022.

The second best-improved province is the Eastern Cape, with an achievement of 81.4%, an improvement of 4.1% from 2022 and the best-improved province is Limpopo, with an achievement of 79.5%, a 7.4% improvement from 2022.

Mpumalanga achieved at 77.0%, a 0.2% increase from 2022 and Northern Cape achieved at 75.8%, a 1.6% increase from 2022.

Minister Motshekga highlighted the narrow percentage gap in pass rates between provinces, emphasizing the overall growth in the education system, adding that “This demonstrates the overall growth in the system from all educational angles; so that we do not misrepresent our provinces, districts and schools, as centres of dysfunctionality.”

In celebrating the remarkable achievements of the Class of 2023, Motshekga expressed gratitude to principals, teachers, support staff, and parents for their continuous efforts.

Registration for the Second Chance Matric Programme is open and will close on February 20, 2023.