By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider 

The class of 2025 Matric results have been released as of Monday morning as the Independent Examination Board (IEB) have revealed that the pass rate among IEB students had dropped to 98.3%. 

89.12% of students have managed to secure entry into tertiary institutions, despite the pass rate dropping slightly from the previous year. More than 17,400 students had written their examinations last year across the country, as Gauteng presented the largest group of these students nationwide from a total of 114 schools.

 In KwaZulu Natal (KZN) more than 3000 students had written their final examinations, and the province with the lowest participation of students writing examinations was the Northern Cape as only three schools were involved in total. 

The board had acknowledged 161 students for outstanding results in their academic performances. Although the IEB matric results were released on Monday morning, the broader national results will be released on Monday evening as the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube will announce the results. 

Since 2020, the IEB matric results have fluctuated over the years. 

In 2020 the pass rate sat at 98.07%, as 88.42% of those students had received Bachelor’s pass which allows them to be eligible for tertiary education, as 8.14% of those students had received a Diploma pass, and 1.51% had received a Higher Certificate pass.

 In 2021 the pass rate had improved slightly to 98.39% and the Bachelor passes improved to 89.2%.

 In 2022, the pass rate found itself at 98.42% and 2023 the pass rate grew slightly to 98.46%. Then finally in 2024 the pass rate was still relatively the same with 98.47%. 

Individual results for Public schools will be released nationwide on Tuesday. The NSC examinations were written by over 920,000 students nationwide, as this represents the largest national assessment process. The Minister of Basic Education will announce the results tonight at 18h00, at Mosaiek Church in Fairlands .