×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Gauteng best performing province with 83.9% rate

THE matric class of 2012 has achieved the highest pass rate in the past five years.

The national pass rate has improved to 73.9%.

Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga announced the 2012 matric results at the SABC auditorium yesterday.

The pass rate has increased from 70.2% in 2011 to 73.9%. In 2010, the pass rate was 67.8%, in 2009 it was 60.6% and in 2008 it was 62.6%.

Last year 511152 pupils registered to write matric exams and 377829 passed, 29712 more than in 2011.

The number of full-time candidates writing the National Senior Certificate exams increased from 496090 in 2011.

The number of part-time students increased to 81552 in 2012 compared to 80116 the previous year.

Gauteng was the best performing province with an 83.9% pass rate, followed closely by Western Cape with 82.8%.

Western Cape showed the only decline in the pass rate from the previous year.

Free State rounds up the top three best performing provinces with a pass rate of 81.1%.

North West achieved a 79.5% pass rate, Northern Cape 74.6% and KwaZulu-Natal had a pass rate of 73.1%.

Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Eastern Cape were the lowest performing provinces, with pass rates of 70%, 66.9% and 61.6% respectively.

Motshekga congratulated Gauteng education MEC Barbara Creecy for leading her province to the top spot.

"To learners who have excelled, the world is your oyster. Go out there and realise your dreams. This country needs you," Motshekga urged the Class of 2012.

"To those who did not perform as expected, do not lose heart. There are many options for improving your results or pursuing alternative career paths," she said.

Mathematics proved to be the most difficult subject to pass, with a pass rate of 54% compared to the highest pass rate of 86% for history.

Motshekga also acknowledged the difficulties certain provinces had experienced in the school year.

This Grade 12 class were known as the "born frees" as they were born in 1994 - the year of the first free and democratic elections in South Africa. - nkosin@sowetan.co.za

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.