In a significant announcement on Thursday evening, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga revealed the matric results for 2023, marking a notable achievement with an 82.9% pass rate. This figure represents a notable increase from the 80.1% in 2022 and 76.4% in 2021, indicating a positive trend in South Africa’s education sector.
A Detailed Look at the 2023 Matric Numbers
Enrollment and Examination Statistics
The year 2023 saw a substantial enrollment of 897,775 candidates, encompassing both full-time and part-time students, for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. These exams were extensive in scale, featuring 162 question papers, resulting in the production of 10.2 million printed and 9.6 million scripts. The logistical efforts involved 6,898 examination centers, staffed by 72,500 invigilators and 52,500 markers across 184 marking centers.
Demographics and Progression
A notable 88.2% of full-time and 47.8% of part-time candidates fell within the 16-20 age bracket. From the cohort that started Grade 1 in 2012, 740,566 students progressed to Grade 12 by 2023. By October 2023, 715,719 candidates had registered for the NSC exams, with 715,719 being full-time and 182,056 part-time students.
Progressed Learners and Special Education
The category of progressed learners saw 54,943 enrollments, with 49,866 writing all seven subjects. Of these, 22,688 succeeded, translating to a 45.5% success rate among those who took all subjects. Their achievements included 3,147 Bachelor, 8,828 Diploma, and 10,680 Higher Certificate admissions, alongside notable distinctions. In the special education sector, 5,458 learners with special needs enrolled, with 4,581 successfully passing the exams.
Socio-Economic Impact
There was a marked improvement in Bachelor passes from schools once considered underperforming, reaching over 65% in 2023. Schools in Quintiles 1-3 recorded 379,917 passes, including 174,676 Bachelor passes. Among social grant recipients, who numbered 543,786, the pass rate stood at 81.2%, with 202,156 attaining Bachelor passes.
Correctional Facilities and Gender Distribution
In correctional facilities, 137 out of 147 full-time candidates passed, most achieving Bachelor, Diploma, or Higher Certificate qualifications. Gender-wise, females comprised 56.4% of candidates, with both genders achieving an equal pass rate of 82.9%. Female candidates notably secured 66.4% of the distinctions.
Regional Highlights
At the district level, no district fell below a 60% pass rate, with leading districts surpassing 80%. Johannesburg West in Gauteng was at the forefront with a 92.5% pass rate. Provincially, the Free State led with an 89.0% pass rate, with Limpopo and Eastern Cape showing remarkable improvements of 7.4% and 4.1%, respectively.
Concluding Overview
The 2023 NSC results were a watershed, with an overall pass rate of 82.9%. A record 282,894 candidates qualified for Bachelor studies, with the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo contributing significantly to the number of Bachelor passes and distinctions.
