- The matric class of 2024 achieved an impressive national pass rate of 87.3%, with the Western Cape excelling at 86.6%.
- Pinelands High’s Rayyan Ebrahim was named South Africa’s top learner.
- The province also recorded the highest pass rates in mathematics and physical science.
As the new academic year begins today, Wednesday 15 January, the successful candidates of the matric class of 2024 can finally officially bid farewell to their high school careers, with the results of the 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams made available yesterday, Tuesday 14 January.
On Monday 13 January, the national department of basic education announced the national and provincial pass rates, with an 87,3% national pass and 86,6% pass rate in the Western Cape, 5,1% higher than the class of 2023.
David Maynier, Western Cape minister of education, says: “While the percentage pass rate is an important indicator when assessing the matric results, we must also consider other indicators such as the quality and quantity of passes. This gives a far better picture of improving learning outcomes in the Western Cape.”
These indicators include the number of candidates achieving a bachelors pass, the number of candidates writing and passing, and reducing the number of underperforming schools, says Maynier.
According to the department, in the 2023 matric exams, the WCED achieved the top mathematics pass rate of 75,4% and the top physical science pass rate of 82,2%.
The province again produced the overall top learner in the country, Rayyan Ebrahim from Pinelands High. The province has the top learner seven out of the last eight exam cycles, only skipping 2020.
“It feels so unbelievable to me to have been named the top achiever from a public school and in the Western Cape. I am so grateful to be here and excited for what the future may hold,” said Ebrahim at the awards ceremony in Gauteng on Monday.
“We hope to improve our overall pass rate of 81,5% achieved in 2023 and our bachelors pass rate of 42,2% in 2023, and in both cases, we also hope to improve the number of candidates who achieved these results,” said Maynier in a statement ahead of the results release.
National results
“Our bachelors pass rate, which is a crucial indicator of the quality of matric passes, has also increased by 5,6 percentage points to 47,8%. This is also the highest bachelors pass rate our department has achieved to date. Our province achieved the top Mathematics and top Physical Science pass rates again this year, with a Mathematics pass rate of 78%, and Physical Science pass rate of 79,4%. Our candidates achieved our highest number of subject distinctions to date, with 11 699 candidates achieving a total of 27 948 distinctions for the second highest distinctions rate in the country,” says Maynier.
The province also has the second highest pass rate in the country for Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN) at 91%, and the highest bachelors pass rate in the country for LSEN learners at 63.3%.
Four of the top candidates in the country are also from the Western Cape.
Top candidate in Quintile 5:
- 1st place: Rayyan Ebrahim – Pinelands High School
- 2nd place: Matthew Christopher Wise – Pinelands High School
- 3rd place: Nicholas David Schreiber – Rondebosch Boys’ High School
Top candidate in South African Sign Language:
- 2nd place: Jordan Raubenheimer – De La Bat School
Help for learners
“While our matrics await their individual results, we urge them to remember that there are options for those candidates that did not achieve their desired results. We encourage all learners who did not pass their exams not to give up and to continue doing whatever they can to complete Grade 12,” says Maynier.
Applicants may apply for a re-mark or re-check if they do not feel their results reflect their performance, or write the exams in June.
More information on these options is available on the WCED website.
“There are also measures in place to receive counselling for matrics who are disappointed with their results, either by approaching their school, which will put them in touch with the relevant officials in the district offices, or by phoning the Safe Schools Hotline on 0800 45 46 47.”
Advice for class of 2025
Two matriculants who received their matric results yesterday shared their ambitions and hopes for life beyond school.
Tamica Appels, who completed matric as head girl, says: “In 2025 I plan to study accounting at university. I am most looking forward to experiencing academics on a tertiary level and learning to cope with the transition to university, and seeing how what I have learnt in high school helps me with my studies. I aspire to be a partner someday in an accounting firm and travel to work in different parts of the world.”
Appels received four distinctions and a bachelors pass. She encouraged the class of 2025 to give it their all.
“To the new matrics I’d like to say work hard and don’t let laziness prevent you from doing your best because through the tough times just remember that all your hard work will be worth it when you reach your end goal. Don’t procrastinate, be eager to learn and don’t give up.”
Muatthin Lakay, who also matriculated in the class of 2024, plans to take a gap year to devote time to religious study.
“My plan for 2025 is to go into the Islamic field and memorise the entire holy Quran. I also plan to perhaps work on the side with my father’s transporting company. I am looking forward to going into the new year as I would be having a clean slate and have new opportunities awaiting me. I’m looking forward to not being bound by school times and having a bit more freedom with what I can achieve in the world,” he says.
“I aspire to one day go into the IT field as it was one of my best subjects at school, and I have a great passion and enthusiasm for the computing field.”
Lakay offers a short message for the class of ’25: “Don’t give up, stay consistent, do your homework and enjoy every single moment that you have at school. You’re going to miss those around you, so take full advantage of every moment that you have with one another.”
YearBeyond programme
Another opportunity on offer for the youth is the department of cultural affairs and sport (DCAS’s) YearBeyond programme for unemployed youth.
This offers an opportunity to gain valuable working experience while also giving back to their communities.
YearBeyond is a youth in service partnership between DCAS, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), donors, and NGOs.
Initiated in the Western Cape, it provides unemployed youth (18-25 years old) with meaningful work experience and a pathway to further studies or work, while at the same time encouraging a culture of community service.
There are various streams within the YearBeyond programme where youth can be placed. To qualify, applicants must live within a 5 km radius of a YearBeyond site (map available on website) and they must be registered on the SAYouth.Mobi platform.
Some of the streams have additional qualification criteria like minimum Matric marks in languages or maths.
Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport Ricardo Mackenzie said: “Youth unemployment and disillusionment (are) still a pressing matter that we must continuously address. Through the YearBeyond programme, young people who are unsure as to what their next steps are can take up an opportunity to gain a year’s practical experience, improve their CV and gain important skills.”
For more information go to www.yearbeyond.org The closing dates vary – information is online.
