South Africans are beaming with pride following the announcement of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results. The Class of 2023 has achieved an 82,9% pass rate despite learning losses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga, joined by Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule, and Education MECs, released the NSC results at the Mosaïek Church in Randburg on 18 January 2024, following Umalusi’s approval.

In her welcoming address, Deputy Minister Mhaule pointed out that the education system has reached a milestone in terms of delivering quality education. “I therefore urge Provincial Education Departments (PEDs), education districts, schools and key role players in education to sustain the upward trajectory. To learners who did not meet the NSC minimum requirements, I encourage you to register with the Second Chance Matric Programme to improve your learning outcomes.”

The improved pass rate assures South Africans that the Basic Education Sector is a system on the rise. Minister Motshekga said that, “over the past 30 years, Government has continuously and consistently implemented policies, programmes and interventions, which clearly demonstrated an unwavering commitment to expand and enhance basic education through the implementation of the social justice principles of access, equity, redress, inclusivity, quality, and efficiency. Access to educational institutions has expanded steadily. Not only do more young people attend and complete schooling than ever before, but access to early learning opportunities, has expanded dramatically. StatsSA surveys reveal that Early Childhood Development (ECD) opportunities have also surged. Enrolments in early childhood education for 5-year olds, have surged from 40% in 2002 to 90% in 2021. Over 98% of learners, who are 7 to 15 years of age, have been attending educational institutions since 2009, signalling a near universal attendance rate for compulsory education in South Africa. In terms of participation and completion rates, a mere 10% of Black South Africans born in the 1950s and 1960s, completed 12 years of education; whilst those who were born in the 1980s, saw this figure rise to an approximately 30% completion rate. According to 2021 General Household Survey data, nearly 60% of young Black South Africans now attain this milestone – this means six in 10 South Africans, complete Grade 12”.

The number of NSC candidates obtaining Bachelor passes, has nearly tripled since 2008; with the strongest growth from no fee schools, demonstrating the equitable nature of these improvements. Lower grade repetition rates meant less over-age learners in Grades 10 and 11; and allowed more young people to reach Grade 12 to write their NSC examinations.

The improvements in equity and inclusivity have also been attributable to Government’s “pro-poor” education policies, such as the free nutritious meals served every school day to about 9.6 million children (about 84% of all learners); 75% of public-school learners do not pay school fees, and they receive quality Learning and Teaching Support Materials (LTSMs). Approximately 60% of learners in “no fee” schools are provided with free transport daily. Policies to screen and identify children for special educational needs, have also helped to ensure that more than 90% of 7-15-year-old children with disabilities now attend school.

The next phase in the Basic Education landscape, is to continue to ramp up ECD programmes; and focus on foundational skills of reading, writing, and counting, as well as diversifying the curriculum for the skills and competencies of a changing world to continue to address the factors leading to high failure and drop-out rates in the FET Phase. Minister Motshekga extended her gratitude to the PEDs for the excellent work done in support of the progressed learners: “In the 2023 NSC examinations, we saw 54,943 progressed learners enrolled. A total of 49,866 progressed learners wrote the requisite seven subjects during the examinations, with 22,688 passing, representing 45.5% of the progressed learners who wrote all 7 subjects during the examinations. A total of 3,147 of the progressed learners obtained admission to Bachelor studies; 8,828 obtained admission to diploma studies; 10,680 obtained admission to Higher Certificate studies; as well as 11 and 23 obtaining NSC and Endorsed NSC passes, respectively. The Policy on Progression was introduced to unclog the system, as learners were unnecessarily repeating the same grade or phase more than once. The Policy of Progression therefore, directed that no learner should repeat a phase more than once.”

Melissa Muller from Rhenish Girls’ High School in the Western Cape Province is the country’s top public school learner. The Minister congratulated the Class of 2023 for its outstanding performance and encouraged education stakeholders and partners to continue to support schools to ensure that young people are provided with opportunities to shape their future through education.

Basic Education Director-General, Mr Mathanzima Mweli, has attributed the achievements of the Class of 2023 to the extraordinary support the learners have received throughout the year. “The DBE has, along with Provincial Education Departments (PEDs), provided comprehensive support to our learners through various Learner Support Programmes. This support does not begin in Grade 12, it starts from the foundation phase,” he added.