On Thursday, 18th January at 6.00am, South Africa’s Matric (the equivalent of WAEC) results were published. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced on the same Thursday evening that the matric class of 2023 achieved a pass rate of 82.9%. This was an improvement from 80.1% in 2022 and 76.4% in 2021. South Africa’s 2023 matrics achieved the highest pass rate in the democratic era with a 82.9% score.
A total of 897,775 candidates, both full-time and part-time, enrolled for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations in 2023. The examinations involved 162 question papers, with 10.2 million printed and 9.6 million scripts produced. Exam administration was extensive, involving 6,898 examination centres, 72,500 invigilators, and 52,500 markers across 184 marking centres. 543,786 social grant recipients wrote the exams, with a pass rate of 81.2%.This group achieved 202,156 Bachelor passes, indicating a 2.1% improvement from 2022. A number of inmates in prison also took the exams. 137 out of 147 full-time candidates in correctional facilities passed with 93.2% achieving Bachelor, Diploma, or Higher Certificate passes. Free State province (one of South Africa’s nine provinces) retained its top position nationally, with a pass rate of 89.03%. The national matric pass rate is up by 2.8% from the 80.1% pass rate in 2022. A total of 715 719 full time and 182 056 part time candidates registered to sit for the 2023 NSC (National Senior Certificate) examinations. The class of 2023 achieved 253 807 distinctions. KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and Limpopo were the main contributors. Motshekga said it was remarkable to note that the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo — the three most rural provinces in the country, produced 50.9% of the total bachelor passes. “In addition, these three most rural provinces produced 59.0% of the total passes with distinction,” she said.
Motshekga said 56.4% of the candidates who wrote the 2023 NSC exams were girls, while 43.6% were boys. She said 42% of the girls and 39.6% of the boys attained bachelor passes, while 26.1% of the girls and 28.6% of the boys attained diploma passes. Motshekga further remarked that some of the other features of the 2023 NSC exams included a high degree of stability in the system. “There was much improved data collection, data analysis, and data feedback processes within the Department of Basic Education; and more importantly, the class of 2023 showed the greatest determination, fortitude and resolve to overcome all odds.”
The Independent Examinations Board (IEB) also announced the results of its matric class 2023, achieving a pass rate slightly higher than 2022. It is important to note that there are two matric exams systems in South Africa of which the Independent Examinations Board is one and the National Senior Certificate (NSC) is the other. The IEB relates to private schools whilst the NSC relates to government schools.
In a media statement on Thursday (18 January), the IEB revealed an overall pass rate of 98.46% in the 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations — a slight uptick from the 98.4 recorded in 2022. All the candidates who passed the IEB 2023 NSC examinations achieved a pass that grants them access to tertiary study at one of three levels:
88.59% of the matric class of 2023 achieved a degree pass — compared to 89.32% in 2022;8.31% achieved a diploma pass — compared to 7.52% in 2022; and 1.57% achieved a higher certificate pass — the same level recorded in 2022. 15,186 learners wrote the IEB exams in October and November. This is more than the 12,580 full-time and 945 part-time candidates — a total of 13,525 — in 2022. The significant increase of 1,655 results from the 17 new schools, comprising a total of 960 candidates that wrote the IEB for the first time in 2023, said the IEB. “To those who have not succeeded, do not despair. There are still avenues and options available to succeed in their educational journey” the IEB said.
Further success in the 2023 matric results is the story of Future Nations Schools which is a privately owned mostly black school in Johannesburg. There are very few black-owned schools in South Africa. Future Nations Schools is a pioneer in this regard. Future Nation Schools (FNS) announced the outstanding achievements of its Matric Class of 2023 in the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) examinations. With a stellar 100% pass rate. Founded by Sizwe Nxasana and Dr Judy Dlamini, Future Nations Schools is not your average school. The independent schools group is committed to leading the African Education Revolution, offering relevant, futuristic, Africa-focused, and technology-enabled education. FNS achieves this through an enhanced National CAPS curriculum delivered with Project Based Learning (PBL).
The IEB Matric results for the Class of 2023 highlight the success of FNSs innovative educational model. The school’s impressive results include a 100% pass rate, with 72 distinctions, 38 Bachelor Passes (97%) and 1 Diploma Pass.The top achievers at Future Nations Schools are: Asande Nkosi: 7 distinctions, Kuxonga Baloyi: 5 distinctions, Lindani Mbele: 5 distinctions, Zwothe Kone: 4 distinctions, Eliocy Mugabe: 3 distinctions,Khanyisa Xaba: 3 distinctions. Expressing his excitement for the exceptional results, Sizwe Nxasana, CEO of FNS, said: Congratulations to the Matric Class of 2023 for your exceptional IEB results. These achievements reflect your hard work and the dedication of your educators. Future Nation Schools is committed to nurturing academic excellence, and we are delighted to see you excelling in your pursuit of knowledge. In addition to acknowledging the Class of 2023, Nxasana highlighted the significance of the schools PBL approach: PBL prepares learners to solve real-world challenges through inquiry, empowering them to discover, research, work collaboratively and think critically.
The roaring success of the matriculants has also brought about benefits with the top achieving matriculants honoured at a Ministerial breakfast. Thirty-four pupils from various schools across the country were celebrated at a ministerial breakfast in Johannesburg on Thursday, January 18. The Basic Education Department remarked that the high-quality results achieved by South Africa’s top-achieving matriculants are a hallmark of the performance of the cohort. The celebration of their academic performance comes ahead of Minister Angie Motshekgas release of the National Senior Certificate results. Stellenbosch’s Melissa Muller placed number one out of more than 700,000 matric learners who sat for the National Senior Certificate exams in October and November last year.The Rhenish High School learner with a beaming bright smile of joy was serenaded with well wishes from Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule and Western Cape Education Minister David Maynier as she was announced the best of the best at an awards and matric results ceremony which took place in Randburg, Johannesburg. Bosting seven distinctions and an overall average of 97.6%, Melissa Müller from Rhenish Girls High School, in Stellenbosch, has been named the country’s top 2023 matric pupil out of the 717 377 candidates who sat for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams last year. The elated maths and physics boffin told The Citizen on Friday morning that she plans to study mechatronics engineering at the University of Stellenbosch this year.
“I have always aced maths and physics, but couldn’t decide whether to study medicine or engineering. I found the perfect loophole in biomedical engineering,” Melissa said, explaining that she first needs to get her degree in mechatronics before she would be able to specialise in this new and upcoming field of engineering. And the brainy blue-eyed beauty — who got 100% for maths and accounting respectively, as well as 99% for physical and life science — wants to make the world a better place…”I want to use my degree one day to engineer medical devices for people in the poorer areas of our country.” Muller, who was also a dedicated sports woman representing her school in first team water polo and hockey, told the media she will study mechatronics engineering at the University of Stellenbosch this year.
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