Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, on Monday announced that more than 656,000 learners passed the NSC exams, with KwaZulu-Natal the top province 90.6%, Free State in second place with 89.33% and Gauteng in 3rd place with an 89.06% pass rate.

This year, the national cohort achieved a remarkable pass rate of 88.1%, reflecting a steady improvement from last year’s 87.3%. The announcement was met with a blend of celebration and concern, highlighting the hard work of the students during a year marred by controversy.

“This is the highest pass rate since the dawn of democracy, and we honour the work that has gone into this pass rate. Even as we celebrate progress, austerity measures without care affect sustained investment,” she stated.

Gwarube, who addressed a media briefing held at the Mosaiek Church in Fairlands on Monday evening, commended the class of 2025 for their hard work despite the recent exam cheating scandal involving 40 learners from Tshwane.

The minister was joined by her deputy, Dr Reginah Mhaule, to host the official results release, with this year’s results expected to be published across accredited newspapers.

Her address comes as the recent investigation confirmed that learners, whose results have been withheld until further notice, are reported to have had prior access to question papers and marking guidelines.

Despite this troubling situation, Gwarube emphasised that the improvements in overall performance should not overshadow the significant steps the department is taking to maintain the integrity of the education system. “Education has long carried a particular weight in our society for a more equitable future as the most powerful instrument for social cohesion, she said.

Earlier in the day, the minister hosted the NSC Class of 2025 Top Achievers’ Breakfast, where she delivered an inspiring address that celebrated excellence, perseverance, and the value of the journey toward success.

Speaking to learners, parents, teachers, and partners, the Minister reflected on the discipline and resilience required to overcome challenges, reminding all that true excellence is found not only at the summit but in the climb itself.

Mhaule indicated that KZN also leads the way with the number of districts in the top ten list.

“One of the things the minister missed to highlight is the top ten district and of the top ten, six districts are from KZN, with Umkhanyakude being the top district alongside Johannesburg,” Mhaule stated.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

On the results, the minister indicated that the latest results reflect the hard work of parents, teachers, and learners, who are committed to overcoming obstacles and achieving their goals.

Gwarube said the country’s education system serves more than 13.5 million learners with 64,000 educators, and 75 education districts and nine provincial departments.

The National Senior Certificate results have coincided with the release of the Independent Examinations Board (IEB), which announced an overall pass rate of 98.3% for the 2025 academic year.

The results, which were released on Monday, showed a marginal decrease from the 98.47% achieved by the 2024 cohort. Despite this dip, the majority of the 2025 candidates qualified for further study, with 89.12% achieving a bachelor’s degree pass, granting access to degree programmes at tertiary institutions. 

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

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