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National Senior Certificate

Unions slam basic education department over no maths at 464 schools
Education
/ 6 May 2025

Unions slam basic education department over no maths at 464 schools

The South African Democratic Teachers Union alleges schools are pressuring learners in grade 10 and upwards to drop maths to protect overall matric pass rates

By Umamah Bakharia
Backlogs: Learners pay the price with their mental health
Thought Leader
/ 20 February 2025

Backlogs: Learners pay the price with their mental health

The systemic failures in education mean that learners are not adequately prepared for their matric year

By Nduvho Ramulongo
Matric assessment institute refutes claims it has unfairly failed learners
Education
/ 4 February 2025

Matric assessment institute refutes claims it has unfairly failed learners

Quality assurer Umalusi said it found no discrepancies during its evaluation of the 2024 NSC examinations

By Umamah Bakharia
What Vhembe’s success teaches us about quality education in South Africa
Education
/ 31 January 2025

What Vhembe’s success teaches us about quality education in South Africa

In 2020, Nelson Mandela University physics professor, Azwinndini Muronga, wrote in the Mail & Guardian about Vhembe’s remarkable performance in the 2019 national senior certificate results. Five years later, he examines what this means for South African education

By Azwinndini Muronga
What Vhembe’s success teaches us about quality education in South Africa
Top Achievers 2025
/ 31 January 2025

What Vhembe’s success teaches us about quality education in South Africa

In 2020, Nelson Mandela University physics professor, Azwinndini Muronga, wrote in the Mail & Guardian about Vhembe’s remarkable performance in the 2019 national senior certificate results. Five years later, he examines what this means for South African education

By Azwinndini Muronga
DA says it wants matric pass mark ‘incrementally’ increased to 50%
Education
/ 16 January 2025

DA says it wants matric pass mark ‘incrementally’ increased to 50%

It’s detractors say the party has accepted the 30% pass because it is enjoying the benefits of the government of national unity

By Umamah Bakharia
Education movements slam high dropout rate for matric class of 2024
Education
/ 14 January 2025

Education movements slam high dropout rate for matric class of 2024

The Zero Dropout Campaign has cautioned that the department of basic education should take heed of ‘early warning signs’ to assist learners

By Umamah Bakharia
Education department gets green light to release matric results
Education
/ 13 January 2025

Education department gets green light to release matric results

But the quality assurer remains concerned about cheating and an increase in ‘problematic’ questions flagged by the department of high education

By Umamah Bakharia
Township school trains learners to be drone pilots, engineers
Education
/ 24 November 2024

Township school trains learners to be drone pilots, engineers

By focusing on scarce skills, the Katlehong schoolchildren are being primed to have a competitive edge in the job market

By Khaya Koko
Matric class of 2023 bags 82.9% pass rate
Education
/ 19 January 2024

Matric class of 2023 bags 82.9% pass rate

The class of 2023 has obtained the second-highest results in the history of the NSC, according to the basic education department

By Umamah Bakharia
Matric students need mental health support to handle exam stress, Sadag says
Education
/ 8 November 2023

Matric students need mental health support to handle exam stress, Sadag says

A recent poll by Unicef South Africa found that 73% of young people needed mental health support over the past year

By Umamah Bakharia
School dropout rate improved by 10% compared with pre-Covid levels
National
/ 18 April 2023

School dropout rate improved by 10% compared with pre-Covid levels

The department of basic education’s researcher says the dropout rates can improve to 83% by 2050

By Eunice Masson
Should we celebrate the 2022 matric pass rate?
Opinion
/ 25 January 2023

Should we celebrate the 2022 matric pass rate?

One concern is the poor pass rate in maths and a growing number of learners drop to the easier subject of maths literacy.

By Paul Esterhuizen
Umalusi clears release of matric results on Thursday
Education
/ 16 January 2023

Umalusi clears release of matric results on Thursday

The education body says the credibility of the 2022 matric results was not compromised, despite instances of cheating and disruptions caused by protests

By Mandisa Ndlovu
2021 matrics set new record with a pass rate of 76.4%
Education
/ 20 January 2022

2021 matrics set new record with a pass rate of 76.4%

Most bachelor passes and distinctions in the class of came from female learners

By Marcia Zali
Basic education minister celebrates the top achievers in the class of 2021
Education
/ 20 January 2022

Basic education minister celebrates the top achievers in the class of 2021

Angie Motshekga says 2021’s matrics are in ‘a class of their own’ for having persevered through Covid-19 pandemic for two years

By Marcia Zali
Court rules matric results will be published in the media
Education
/ 18 January 2022

Court rules matric results will be published in the media

Court grants AfriForum’s application to compel the department of basic education to publish matric results in newspapers and online platforms

By Marcia Zali
Second-chance matriculants need support
Education
/ 10 March 2021

Second-chance matriculants need support

There is a programme for people to rewrite their national certificate outside of the school system, but they aren’t monitored and they need a study material portal, free data and academic support

By Kristal Duncan-Williams
Maths and physical science pass rates show a decline, even after leaked papers
Education
/ 23 February 2021

Maths and physical science pass rates show a decline, even after leaked papers

Home languages have remained steady, with a 90% pass mark, but other critical subjects have declined slightly

By Bongekile Macupe
There is no honour in leaking a matric exam paper
Education
/ 21 November 2020

There is no honour in leaking a matric exam paper

Those involved in the breach must be ‘dealt with swiftly and harshly’

By Bongekile Macupe
Testing times for grade 12 learners
Coronavirus
/ 21 November 2020

Testing times for grade 12 learners

Strict Covid protocols are in place for the exams, with special provision made for those who test positive

By Bongekile Macupe
Data-driven education SA’s success story
Article
/ 25 January 2019

Data-driven education SA’s success story

Its use ensures timeous targeted interventions to assist decision-makers, teachers and pupils

By Elijah Mhlanga
Pass rate says little about schooling
Article
/ 11 January 2019

Pass rate says little about schooling

The metric is poorly understood and is an inadequate standard by which to rate our education system

By Martin Gustafsson
No matter what, a matric remains within reach
Article
/ 11 January 2019

No matter what, a matric remains within reach

Even if you have failed, don’t lose hope. You can take steps to improve your situation

By Jackie Carroll and Rory Carroll in Caracas
We do have solutions for SA’s reading crisis
Article
/ 26 January 2018

We do have solutions for SA’s reading crisis

Several excellent projects could be expanded immediately — for a meagre R500-million a year

By David Harrison
Single matric exam a step closer
Article
/ 9 June 2017

Single matric exam a step closer

The department believes it will promote equality but others say it’d be wiser to improve public schooling

By Bongekile Macupe
Primacy of exam results stunts pupils’ development
Article
/ 2 December 2015

Primacy of exam results stunts pupils’ development

The education system focuses doggedly on the National Senior Certificate and the outcome of these exams, to the detriment of students.

By Mark Potterton
New matric: a sure way to fail ejected pupils
Article
/ 30 May 2014

New matric: a sure way to fail ejected pupils

The basic education department proposes to reinstate an outdated qualification that is useless to pupils.

By John Aitchison
Matric pass rate highest yet at 78.2%
Article
/ 6 January 2014

Matric pass rate highest yet at 78.2%

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has announced matrics achieved a pass rate of 78.2%, with the Free State getting the top marks of 87.4%.

By Victoria John
Learners set up for failure
Article
/ 21 January 2011

Learners set up for failure

Let’s place the truth about the 2010 matric results on the table.

By Junita Kloppers Lourens
No image available
Article
/ 10 January 2011

Class of 2010 in limbo

More than 20% of learners who heard last week that they had passed the matric exams could be left in limbo in the 2011 academic year.

By Ryan Hoffmann
Pride — but no prejudice
Article
/ 10 January 2011

Pride — but no prejudice

SA’s quality watchdog, Umalusi, explains what it did with the 2010 matric marks.

By Mafu Rakometsi
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