Basic Education
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South Africa's 2025 matric class achieves record 88% pass rate amid progress and challenges
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Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced a record national pass rate of 88% for the 2025 National Senior Certificate exams, the highest ever, achieved by over 900,000 candidates. KwaZulu-Natal led provinces at 90.6%, while the Eastern Cape dipped to 84.17%. A record 345,000 bachelor's passes were recorded, but experts warn of low mathematics participation, subject declines, and high late-stage dropouts.
South Africa’s public schools face ongoing teacher shortages as nearly half the workforce is aged 50 or older and 17,450 posts remain vacant.