Excitement, nerves and anxiety were clearly visible as the Matric Class of 2025 received their National Senior Certificate (NSC) results across the country today.
The Western Cape achieved its highest pass rate of 88,2% up from the record-breaking 86,6% in 2024.
The province’s bachelor’s pass rate increased from 47,8% to 49,2%.
This is also the highest ever for the province, and the second highest in the country.
David Maynier, provincial education minister, lauded the learners for their “exemplary achievement”.
“You have been one of our hardest-working matric classes to date, and you can rightly celebrate your achievements. Your dedication to your studies has set a wonderful example for future classes of matrics.
He expressed his gratitude to teachers for supporting the learners.
In an interview with People’s Post, Pieter Rademeyer, principal at Jan van Riebeeck High School, expressed his excitement with the school’s 100% pass rate, for the second year in a row.
“We are thrilled and excited about the results. Our top achiever got 94,5% and that is excellent.”
He believes consistent hard work from learners and teachers is the recipe for the school’s remarkable achievement.
Stella Malan, the school’s top achiever, says she’s optimistic about the future.
“I didn’t expect this result. When they read my name I was shocked, but I am happy about it.”
She says working hard throughout the year has paid off.
Camps Bay High School achieved 98,6% pass rate, just missing the 100% mark the school obtained in 2024.
School principal Louis Mostert says despite this they are proud of the learners.
“They did well, we had some great results…We are excited about our bachelor’s passes that increased. We celebrate the kids that worked hard and got the results that they wanted.”
Mostert says the school is working hard to ensure more learners obtain bachelor passes.
The school’s bachelor passes increased to 81% this year compared to 75% the previous year.
The school’s top learner Shani Gilmour received an 89,14% pass rate with seven distinctions.
Gilmour, who is the deputy head prefect, says while she aimed for top marks she was pleasantly surprised when she got the results.
“I am so happy. It feels like all the hard work paid off. Matric was hard focusing on my academics while also being the deputy head prefect meant there was a lot of work. The (exam) papers were hard but I am pleasantly surprised.”
She shares some of the tips that helped her get through the year.
“Time management and I made sure I was getting things done on time and worked through the procrastination.”
She now has her sights set on studying medicine the University of Cape Town.
Counselling support is available for matrics by dailing the Safe Schools Hotline on 0800 45 46 47.
