CAPE TOWN – The Western Cape’s matric class of 2025 has rewritten the record books, delivering the highest pass rate and bachelor’s pass rate the province has ever achieved.
That was the message from Western Cape MEC for Education, David Maynier, as he addressed top achievers at the Western Cape National Senior Certificate Awards, held at the premier’s residence, Leeuwenhof, in Cape Town on Thursday 29 January.
ALSO READ: Western Cape honours 2025 matric top achievers after record-breaking results
Celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2025, Maynier said the province had delivered its highest matric pass rate ever at 88,2%, along with a record bachelor’s pass rate of 49,2%.
“Last year we were delighted that our Class of 2024 had made the history books,” Maynier said.
“Well, the Class of 2025 didn’t see it that way. They worked hard, and once again, records have been broken.”
He highlighted that the Western Cape also achieved the top Mathematics pass mark in the country and the second highest Physical Science pass rate nationally. He praised individual excellence, noting that the province produced the top candidate in South Africa for the fifth consecutive year.
“We congratulate Abigail Kok of the York High School in George,” he said.
“Not only is she the top candidate out of all 66 000 matrics in the Western Cape, she is the top candidate out of all 746 000 matrics in South Africa.”
Special recognition was also given to Takunda Muchuweni of the Jan Kriel School in Kuils River, who was named the top candidate with special needs in the country.
While celebrating the results, Maynier stressed that the focus must now shift beyond overall pass rates to the quality of passes.
“We have clearly increased the quantity of matric passes, but we must now also improve the quality,” he said.
“We simply cannot say that we are delivering quality education when too few learners are achieving bachelor’s passes or passing Mathematics and Physical Science well.”
According to Maynier, 25,4% of candidates achieved 60% or more in Mathematics, while 27,6% did so in Physical Science. He said these results were directly linked to expanding opportunities for learners and growing the provincial economy.
“We will no longer only be focused on the overall pass rate of a school. We must commit to excellence, and we must deliver excellence in education in the Western Cape.”
Maynier pointed to several schools as proof that improvement was possible regardless of circumstances. These included the Silikamva High School, which achieved a 100% pass rate and a 76% bachelor’s pass rate; and the Crestway High School in Retreat, which improved its pass rate to 84,5% after previously recording the lowest pass rate in the province.
“No matter what the challenges, improvement is possible, and excellence is possible,” he said. “No buts.”
In closing, Maynier congratulated the Class of 2025, thanked teachers and parents, and challenged the Class of 2026 to aim even higher.
“Do it for yourself,” he said. “The effort you put in over the coming year is a direct investment in your own future.”
