87.3% matric pass rate a triumph for SA – Ramaphosa

Ramaphosa

Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has commended the matric class of 2024 for their exceptional performance in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, highlighting their achievements as a testament to the progress made in South Africa’s education sector.

According to official results, 615,429 learners successfully passed the NSC examinations in 2024, marking the highest number of passes in the country’s history. The national pass rate soared to 87.3%, a significant improvement from 82.9% in 2023. Notably, nearly half of the candidates achieved Bachelor passes, and approximately 320,000 distinctions were recorded.

“The achievements of the Class of 2024 are a proud contribution to and evidence of our progress as a nation during 30 years of freedom and democracy,” President Ramaphosa said in a statement.

He emphasized that these results underscore the resilience and commitment of the nation’s youth, as well as the critical role of education in addressing the lingering effects of apartheid.

“These results demonstrate the agency, resilience and pride of the youth of our nation in creating a better future for themselves and for all of us,” Ramaphosa said.

“They also provide proof that we are undoing apartheid’s planned legacy of intergenerational indignity, disadvantage and poverty for the majority of South Africans.”

The president extended his gratitude to learners, educators, parents, caregivers, school governing bodies, and other stakeholders who contributed to the success of the Class of 2024. He also called on government and civil society to work collectively to expand opportunities for young people to thrive.

“The doors of learning have swung wide open, and we will celebrate each new generation that passes through these doors successfully,” he said. “This must include the space and inspiration for young people to set their own course as entrepreneurs, innovators, inventors and other embodiments of creativity and self-reliance.”

While celebrating the record-breaking achievements, Ramaphosa also underscored the need to address ongoing challenges in the education sector and the broader economy. He expressed confidence that the Class of 2024 would contribute meaningfully to overcoming these hurdles.

“The achievements of the Class of 2024 must also sharpen our resolve to attend to challenges affecting the education sector and our economic performance. We are confident the Class of 2024 will itself produce some of the answers to these challenges,” he said.

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