The matric class of 2022 achieved a pass rate of 80.1%, up from 76.4% the year before.
Basic education minister Angie Motshekga released the results at an event at the Mosaiek Church in Johannesburg on Thursday night.
The Free State was the best-performing province for the fourth consecutive year, at 88.5%, followed by Gauteng (84.4%), KwaZulu-Natal (83%), Western Cape (81.4%), North West (79.8%), Eastern Cape (77.3%), Mpumalanga (76.8%), Northern Cape (74.2%) and Limpopo (72.1%).
KwaZulu-Natal was the most-improved province, increasing its pass rate from 2021 by 6.2% while Limpopo recorded a 5.3% increase.
The number of candidates qualifying for admission to bachelor studies at universities was 278,814, an improvement of 8.9% from 2021.
A total of 387,401 pupils from quintile 1-3 schools (the poorest schools) passed, including 169,903 who achieved a bachelor pass. There was an increase of 13.4% in bachelor passes from quintile 1-3 schools compared with 2021.
A total of 447,543 social grant recipients passed the exams — an improvement of 9% from 2021. At least 197,388 social grant recipients received a bachelor pass, an improvement of 11.2% from 2021.
Candidates produced 218,730 distinctions, an increase of 3.3% from 2021, with the main contributors being KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
The top 10 district level performances in the country in the descending order are:
· Motheo in the Free State, with 90.8%.
· Fezile Dabi in the Free State, with 90.4%.
· Johannesburg West in Gauteng, with 89.7%.
· Tshwane South in Gauteng, with 89.0.
· Gauteng North in Gauteng, with 87.7%.
· Xhariep in the Free State, with 87.5%.
· Thabo Mafutsanyana in the Free State, with 87.3%.
· Ugu in KZN, with 87.2%.
· Umkhanyakude in KZN, with 86.3%.
· Johannesburg North in Gauteng, with 86.2%.
Motshekga said that 164 fulltime candidates at correctional facilities, or 95.9%, passed, including 105 who obtained a bachelor pass.
“These are the young people who unfortunately found themselves on the wrong side of the law, who in their future lives, could be judges — the same profession that gave them jail sentences — doctors, and other critical professionals needed by our country.”
Motshekga said high quality passes were achieved, including a record number of bachelor and diploma passes, as well as passes with distinction.
“None of our provinces performed at pass rates lower than 70%, and none of our districts were below 60%. The fact that the majority of our schools are performing at and above 80% is an indisputable testament that ours is indeed a system on the rise.”
Reacting to the announcement, Basil Manuel, executive director of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA (Naptosa), said the 3.7% increase in the pass rate was even more remarkable as there was “rotational attendance, online and hybrid classes as well as forced school closures”.
“The loss of loved ones, as well as increased load-shedding, community protests and large-scale flood damage had an added impact on teaching and learning in 2022, hence the triumph over adversity for this matric cohort is applauded.”
He said teachers went beyond the call of duty to ensure pupils were appropriately prepared.
“Many teachers have hardly enjoyed a weekend or holiday as they pushed to catch up and prepare learners for this all-important exit exam. We acknowledge the teachers in the grades below grade 12 who prepared the learners on their way to matric.”
