From 89.5% to 95%: KZN Education's bold vision for 2025 matric results

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka has announced that the province is determined not to fall below a 95% pass rate for the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC). 

Hlomuka addressed the media regarding the province’s readiness for the 2025 NSC examinations.

The MEC said that while they celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2024, their goal was to exceed their previous accomplishments.

“We therefore developed a 2025 Academic Improvement Plan, aimed at improving our pass rate from 89.5% to a minimum of 95%, with the ultimate goal of reaching 100%,” Hlomuka said. 

He explained that all 12 districts formulated district-specific improvement plans aligned to the provincial strategy. These plans were immediately set in motion to ensure their implementation was felt across all schools.

“Our provincial vision remains clear: every learner who sits for the final examination must pass. We know that external factors sometimes make a 100% pass rate difficult, but we are determined not to fall below 95%. This would still represent significant growth from 2024,” Hlomuka said. 

To prepare pupils, Winter Programmes and Spring Classes were implemented across KZN. The Winter Tuition Programme (June 27 - July 21) ensured curriculum coverage and intensive preparation before the end of August.

Key objectives included revision with past papers, clustering schools for common challenges, introducing effective study methods, and familiarising pupils with NSC exam-style questions. A hybrid model, combining overnight camps, cluster walk-in centres, and school-based sessions, was adopted for flexibility. Winter Camps accommodated over 4,380 pupils. Spring Boot Camps (October 5-12), held successfully across all 11 districts, provided additional academic support in key and challenging subjects to the pupils.

“There are extra classes that continue taking place after hours, on weekends,” Hlomuka said. 

In 2025, 179,751 full-time and 16,148 part-time candidates, totalling 195,899 pupils, will sit for their final examinations at various examination centres throughout the province. This marks a 3% increase compared to the 190,452 candidates who wrote in 2024. 

“This upward trend is a clear reflection of the department’s sustained efforts to improve learner retention, reduce drop-out rates, and expand access to quality education. It also demonstrates the growing confidence of learners and parents in the public education system,” Hlomuka said. 

He underscored that the department worked tirelessly to ensure all logistical, administrative, and security arrangements were in place to guarantee the smooth and credible administration of the examinations.  

“Our province runs the largest examination system in the country, supported by 6,450 invigilators overseeing 6,712 examination rooms across 1,705 public centres and 61 private examination centres,” Hlomuka said. 

“Examination materials will be distributed through 13 storage points and 103 distribution and collection centres. KwaZulu-Natal will print 113 question papers, totalling 35,192,785 printouts, to be written across 27 morning and 27 afternoon sessions.” 

Highlighting the importance of exam integrity and credibility, Hlomuka said they enhanced exam security through advocacy, training for invigilators, and additional monitors. District teams trained staff to prevent irregularities.

“A total of 7,889 markers have been appointed, with appointment letters to be issued by the end of October 2025,” Hlomuka said. 

He said marking will run from December 2-12 across 32 marking centres. Additionally, arrangements have been made to ensure examination markers and all related personnel are paid on time. 

Hlomuka confirmed that systems are in place to address potential challenges, including severe weather conditions. The department is collaborating closely with the Joint Operations and Communication Committee (JOCOM) to guarantee the safe, secure, and credible execution of examinations.

All schools and marking centres have been briefed on emergency procedures to ensure uninterrupted examinations.

thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za