Parliament, Thursday, 18 January 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education today applauded the class of 2023 for the astounding 82.9% pass rate it achieved – the highest National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass rate since the dawn of democracy.
Committee Chairperson Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba said this is an improvement of 2.8% compared to the class of 2022 that managed an 80.1% pass rate. “The class of 2023 has made us proud. They have managed to outperform all other matric classes in democratic South Africa. They deserve all the praise heaped upon them.”
A total of 723 971 full-time, 129 064 part-time and 53 217 candidates sat for the NSC examinations at 6 337 public schools and 552 independent centres. Expert subject panels appointed and managed by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) set a total of 162 question papers. Learners who encounter barriers to learning and have special education needs were accommodated through the provision of adapted question papers in Braille, large print and audio.
Minister of Basic Education, Ms Angie Motshekga, today announced the results for the class of 2023. The provincial performance saw the Free State taking the honours with an 89% pass rate, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 86.4% and Gauteng with 85.4%. The following three provinces manage to clock one percentage point from each other – North West with a pass rate of 81.6%, Western Cape with 81.5% and Eastern Cape with 81.4%. The remaining three provinces that managed to achieve pass rates in the 70 percent range are Limpopo with 79.5%, Mpumalanga 76.9 and Northern Cape 75.8%.
Ms Mbinqo-Gigaba said: “Lastly and very important, the committee would like to again congratulate the class of 2023, their parents, caregivers, educators and the basic education sector as a whole”.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION, MS BONGIWE MBINQO-GIGABA.
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