Matriculants had reason to celebrate this week as they received their results.

The matric class of 2024 has achieved a pass rate of 87.3% in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams – the highest in the country’s history, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced on Monday.

The pass rate increased 4.4 percentage points from 82.9% in 2023. It was 80.1% in 2022 and 76.4% in 2021.

And in another first, all nine provinces scored above 84% with 47.8% of matriculants earning passes good enough for university entry.

The Western Cape scored a pass rate of 86.6%, behind top-ranked Free State with 91%, KwaZulu-Natal with 89.5%, Gauteng with 88.4% and North West with 87.5%, and ahead of Limpopo with 85%, Mpumalanga with 84.99%, Eastern Cape with 84.98% and Northern Cape with 84.2%.

Praising the class of 2024, Education MEC David Maynier said it had delivered the province’s highest NSC pass rate - a 5.1% percentage point improvement on last year.

“Thank you for the hard work that you put in to ensure you achieved your goals. You made a decision to invest in your futures, and we look forward to seeing what you will accomplish after matric.”

The Western Cape had the highest retention rate from Grade 10 to 12 in the country at 68.3%, and nearly 3 800 more provincial pupils had passed their matric exam this year compared to 2023, he said.

The province had also achieved the top maths and physical science pass rates again this year - 78% and 79.4% respectively.

Schools in the southern suburbs continued to impress with Cannons Creek holding on to the 100% pass rate it has scored since it started offering matric in 2003.

“The staff and pupils worked hard to achieve this success,” said principal Angus Morton. “These results are reflective of the partnership between the school, the parents, and the pupils.

Top performers were Luke Jacobs with eight distinctions and Hanaa Parkar and Bethany Reynders with seven.

Pinelands High also scored a 100% pass rate, up from 98.9% last year, and it had the top matriculant in the country: Rayyan Ebrahim scored nine distinctions and a 97% aggregate. He was also the top candidate in the Quintile 5 category - those schools serving the least poor communities – and his fellow Pinelands High pupil, Matthew Christopher Wise, 18, came second in that category with a 96% aggregate and nine distinctions.

“In 2020 and 2021 we were in Covid-19, and for the pupils to pull through and achieve these results is a real testament to the community pulling together to support them,” said principal Graham Sayer.

Rustenburg Girls’ High School scored a 100% pass rate and top pupil Kate Ferguson had an aggregate of 95.3%.

“As you soar, may you always find your way back to each other and the cherished memories you've created together,” principal Michael Gates told the pupils who came to collect their results on Tuesday.

Rosebank Progress College, SACS, Seven Steps Academy for the Deaf, St Joseph’s College, St George’s Grammar School, Herschel Girls High School, Star College Cape Town and Westerford High School all maintained their 100% pass rates from last year.

Schools who narrowly missed out on 100% last year who joined the 100% club this time include Bishops, Islamia College and Sans Souci Girls’ High School.

Other schools knocking on the door of the 90%-plus past rates include Rondebosch Boys’ High with 99.4%, Claremont High with 97.1%, Trafalgar Secondary with 96.4%, Groote Schuur High with 96%, Livingstone High with 93.9%, Oaklands High with 92.9% and Windsor High with 91.9%.

Rondebosch Boys’ High's Nicholas David Schreiber placed third among the country’s top-performing candidates in the Quintile 5 category.

Walmer Secondary leapt from a 78% pass last year to 96.2% this year.

Windsor High principal Dianne Morgan said she was proud of the effort put in by parents, staff and pupils.

“We have walked a difficult journey together to ensure success for all our learners.”

Their top pupil, Nashroedeen Jurius, had seven distinctions.

“This is the first time in the past five years that a pupil has achieved seven distinctions. We congratulate him and his parents for an excellent achievement,” said Ms Morgan.

St George's School principal Julian Cameron with top achiever Zanele Ngweni.

Windsor High top performer, Nashroedeen Jurius with principal Dianne Morgan.

Cannons Creek pupils who all passed their matric.

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