The Department of Basic Education (DBE) is commemorating an impressive 82.9% pass rate in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams. This marks a positive progression of 2.8% from the 2022 pass rate of 80.1% and a substantial increase of 6.5% from the 2021 pass rate of 76%.
As of now, candidates who took the exams in 2023 can collect their statement of results from their examination centers. Matriculants can also check their Matric results online using the DBE website.
The class of 2023 commenced their formal education journey in Grade 1, beginning in January 2012, and has been the beneficiary of the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) introduced in Grade 12 in 2014. The DBE acknowledges that this group of learners experienced a relatively stable educational trajectory until the year 2020.
However, 2020 saw the global outbreak of a pandemic, leading to the closure of schools not only worldwide but also in South Africa. It is crucial to highlight that the three most recent matriculation classes encountered substantial learning setbacks attributable to the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifically for the 2023 Grade 12 cohort, it was challenging to cover the entire Grade 9 curriculum in 2020 and the Grade 10 curriculum in 2021. The latter part of the Grade 11 year is considered the closest to a typical academic year, with all learners returning to full-time schooling in 2022.
The majority of the 2023 graduating class would have been in Grade 9 when schools across the nation implemented a rotational calendar as a preventive measure to curb the spread of the virus.
The Matric Class Of 2023 has shown how dedication and resilience ultimately culminate in a dream translating into reality. Notwithstanding a myriad of challenges, these young individuals have crossed the threshold into the next chapter of their lives.
The DBE explained that from 2021 to 2023, learner support programmes at national and provincial levels were tailored to mitigate reduced contact time and to address learning gaps and learning losses. These interventions further attempted to improve learner performance across the system.
In order to mitigate the impact of learning losses a recovery program aimed at addressing the learning disruptions experienced in 2020 and 2021.
To compensate for the gaps, certain portions of the Grade 10 and Grade 11 content had to be incorporated into subsequent grades during the academic years 2022 and 2023.
The results achieved by the class of 2023 are a testament to the effectiveness of these programmes in clawing back learning losses at setting learners on a path of success.
Key Achievements
Key Achievements of the 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) Exams:
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Record-Breaking Bachelor Passes
- The total number of candidates qualifying for admission to Bachelor studies at universities is an impressive 282,894.
- This constitutes 40.9% of the total number of candidates who participated in the 2023 NSC exams.
- Notably, the 2023 Bachelor passes set a historic milestone, achieving the highest numbers and percentages in the entire history of the NSC exams.
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Top Contributors - KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng
- KwaZulu-Natal contributed significantly with 72,099 Bachelor passes, while Gauteng followed closely with 56,552.
- Combined, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng contributed 128,651 Bachelor passes, making up 45.5% of the total Bachelor passes achieved in the 2023 NSC exams.
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Diploma and Higher Certificate Achievements
- A notable 187,876 candidates passed with a Diploma, representing 27.2% of the total candidates who undertook the 2023 NSC exams.
- Additionally, 101,973 candidates successfully passed with Higher Certificates, making up 14.8% of the total candidates who wrote the 2023 NSC exams.
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Fee-Paying School Success
- Of the 198,034 candidates from fee-paying schools who participated in the 2023 NSC exams, an impressive 170,080 passed.
- This results in an outstanding 85.9% pass rate for candidates from fee-paying schools in the 2023 NSC exams.
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“No Fee” School Achievements
- Among the 501,758 candidates from "no fee" schools who wrote the 2023 NSC exams, 387,401 candidates successfully passed.
- This reflects a commendable 77.2% pass rate for candidates from "no fee" schools in the 2023 NSC exams.
