Basic Minister of Education Angie Motshekga has commended the NSC class of 2023 for restoring hope and dedicating themselves to achieving exceptional results. Announcing the matric results in Fairlands, Randburg, yesterday, Motshekga said she would smile to herself whenever she bumped into learners wearing school uniform on weekends, which meant that programs introduced by the department were yielding positive results.

Once again, the Free State came out tops, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in third position. "The Free State is the leading province at 89.0%, an increase of 0.5% from 2022. We must observe the passing of the former MEC of Education in the Free State, Dr Tate Makgoe, who passed on last year. May his soul rest in eternal peace,"she said. The most improved province is Limpopo with a 7,4% increase taking it to 79, 5 from 72.1% in 2022, KwaZulu-Natal, in third place improved with a 3,4% from 2022 with a 86.4% pass rate. Gauteng achieved at 85.4%, an increase of 1.0% from 2022."

Motshekga said the overall results of the 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations were satisfactory and added that for the past ten years, the NSC pass rate has consistently been going up from 60% in 2009 to above 80% pass rates in recent years. "The class of 2023 must be commended for maintaining this trend despite the astronomical challenges they faced. The 2023 NSC overall pass rate has reached the 82.9% mark compared to 80.1% in 2022, and 76.4% in 2021, an improvement of 2.8%, and 6.5% from the pass rates achieved by the classes of 2022 and 2021, respectively." She said this represents 572 983 candidates, who passed the 2023 NSC exams. "It should be noted that, while 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. Similarly, 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." She said the number of candidates qualifying for admission to bachelor studies at universities, is 282 894. Motshekga thanked parents, teachers, communities members and everyone who contributed to the success of the class of 2023. She said the pressure has mounted for NSC 2024 to maintain the high standards.