Class of 2023 sets highest record since the inception of NSC
According to Minister Motshekga, the class of 2023 also made history in producing record high Bachelor passes and distinctions.
Matriculants who sat for the 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams have been hailed for making history with national pass rate of 82.9% , becoming the highest in the history of NSC exams.
This is an increase of 2.8% from the 80.1% in 2022 which represents 572 983 candidates, who passed the 2023 NSC exams.
Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga annouced the NSC matric results on Wednesday evening where she also unveiled the top achievers.
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“The pass rate of the 2023 NSC exams in number is the second highest in the history of the NSC exams; when expressed as a percentage, the pass rate of the 2023 NSC exams, is the highest in the history of the NSC so far,” she announced.
A total of 897 775 candidates sat for the October/November 2023 NSC examinations.
This is the total of 715 719 full time and 182 056 part time candidates.
According to the Minister, 253 807 distinctions were achieved, with KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and Limpopo
“This cohort performed exceptionally well despite the challenges they faced, which include rotational school attendance and learning losses during their Grade 9 and Grade 10 years due to Covid-19.
“Once again, the schooling system has shown without any doubt that it is resilient, maturing and that it is certainly a system on the rise,” she said.
The top three breakdown of the province performance in the 2023 exams. (In order of ranking)
Free State achieved 89.03% dominating the number one position for the third conservative year running.
A total of 34 451 sat down for the exams while 30 673 achieved a pass.
Kwazulu- Natal came second with 86.36% , unseating the Gauteng province when comparing 2021 and 2022 results.
While third ranking went to Gauteng, achieving 85.4% an increase of 3.4% from 2022.
North West achieved 81.63% while the Western Cape followed closely with 81.54% ranking fifth.
Eastern Cape making an impressive performance , at position six jumping into the 80% region with achievement of 81.42%.
The province steadily improved its performance at the 2021 NSC exams with 73,0% and 77.3% at the 2022 exams.
The best improved province is Limpopo, with an achievement of 79.5%, a 7.4% improvement from 2022.
Mpumalanga achieved 77.0%, a 0.2% increase from 2022.
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Northern Cape achieved 75.8%, a 1.6% increase from 2022.
According to Minister Motshekga, the class of 2023 also made history in producing record high Bachelor passes and distinctions.
“Bachelor passes as well as passes with distinction produced by the Class of 2023, stand out as the highest in the history of NSC exams. KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng contributed the most Bachelor passes,” an elated Motshekga announced.
282 894 learners achieved admission to Bachelor studies, which is equivalent to 40.9% an increase from 38.4% in 2022.
The number of candidates with Diploma passes sit at 187 876 which represents 27.2% of the total number of candidates, who wrote the 2023 NSC exams.
In addition, 101 973 candidates passed with Higher Certificates.
The minister also added that notable improvements in performance in Accounting, Economics, Business Studies, Geography, Physical
Sciences; Life Sciences and Agricultural Sciences have been recorded.
