Every district clears 80% in matric results

The Director General for the Department of Basic Education, Dr Hubert Mathanzima Mweli, has revealed that all South African districts have achieved over 80% performance in the 2025 NSC examinations.

This comes as the Department of Basic Education has highlighted the unprecedented achievements from progressed learners and improvements in various performance metrics.

Mweli revealed that more than 920,000 candidates sat for the 2025 NSC examinations nationwide, making it one of the largest national assessment processes ever undertaken, adding that distinctions among progressed learners has also improved.

"Who would have thought that a progressed leaners could achieve a distinction in Mathematics. There is no dustbin for human beings and progressed leaners can perform better than expected," he said.

Mweli addressed the technical aspect of the country's Matric Class of 2025, during a media briefing in Fairlands on Monday afternoon.

His address came as the department was gearing up to release the 2025 matric results by the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube.

Mweli highlighted several critical aspects concerning the 2025 Matric Class, particularly noting a reduction of 13,058 learners who once benefitted from social grants.

"We are saying as long as you are in school, you must receive the grant and let us make sure our children are cushioned in Grade 12," he said.

The Child Support Grant remains the largest support programme, with officials stressing that primary support must be actively reinforced in classrooms.

Mweli reported a gradual improvement in the performance of boy learners, particularly within both fee and non-fee-paying schools.

"We expect an improvement in bachelor's numbers as well as for the provinces to enhance their percentages regarding bachelor passes," he said.

Further evidence indicated that performance metrics such as diploma and higher certificate passes are notably better than the previous year, with improvements ranging from 80 to 100% across various subjects.

Tragically, the briefing also remembered a stalwart of the educational community—a maths teacher and marker who passed away en route to the marking venue. "We are saying to the family, condolences but we celebrate their life as well," Mweli noted solemnly.

In discussing the ongoing challenges within the education system, Mweli addressed the issue of cheating during examinations, calling out invigilators who allow such practices.

He affirmed the need for stringent measures that prevent students from entering exam venues with devices, asserting that ongoing investigations are underway to tackle identified malpractices.

Mweli remarked on the increased number of marking centres and markers, a move welcomed as vital for ensuring a clean marking process.

However, he acknowledged difficulties caused by infrastructure challenges, including water and electricity disruptions, which have hindered learning.

"We have also seen learners who took ill due to anxiety and stress, which cuts across the grades. We must enhance our psycho-social support to cover all grades adequately," he said.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za