The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education noted that education in South Africa is improving consistently, which it said is evident from the last matric results.

The committee commended the Department of Basic Education (DBE) for a “sterling job done” in ensuring the education system stabilises and improves.

The class of 2023 achieved an 82.9% pass rate – the highest pass rate since the beginning of democracy.

Committee chairperson Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba said that this was an improvement of 2.8% compared with the class of 2022, which managed an 80.1% pass rate.

“The class of 2023 has managed to outperform all other matric classes in democratic South Africa. They deserve all the praise heaped upon them,” she stated.

The provincial performance saw the Free State achieve an 89% pass rate, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 86.4% and Gauteng with 85.4%.

The North West had a pass rate of 81.6%, the Western Cape 81.5% and the Eastern Cape 81.4%.

The remaining three provinces, achieving pass rates in the 70% range, are Limpopo with 79.5%, Mpumalanga 76.9% and the Northern Cape 75.8%.

The committee noted the improvements made by learners in larger provinces with predominantly rural areas such as Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal.

“This is noted with pride that our learners made the greatest of strides by ensuring their respective provinces have the biggest increase in pass rates,” said Mbinqo-Gigaba.

The committee also commended the DBE for the improvement in Bachelor's passes to 40.9%, which it said spoke to quality passes. The number of female learners attaining distinctions in subjects was also commended - 66.4% of all distinctions.

“We also commend all the many, many dedicated educators who spent hours and hours getting learners ready for the final examinations. Your loyalty to our vulnerable learners has not gone unnoticed,” she said.