In a historic milestone for South Africa’s education system, the Western Cape has reported its highest-ever matric pass rate for the Class of 2025, achieving an impressive 88.2%, reports Cape {town} Etc.
This marks an increase from last year’s already commendable rate of 86.6%, paving the way for a celebration of achievement across the province.
Provincial Minister of Education, David Maynier, heralded this year’s results as a testament to dedication and hard work. ‘Our bachelor’s pass rate, a key indicator of quality matric passes, has also risen to 49.2%, which is the highest ever for the Western Cape and the second highest in the country,’ Maynier announced.
Notably, the Western Cape students excelled in Mathematics with a pass rate of 73.7%, and delivered the second-highest Physical Science pass rate nationally at 80.6%.
Additionally, candidates with Special Education Needs (LSEN) have also outperformed expectations, achieving a remarkable 91.9% overall pass rate and the second highest bachelor’s pass rate for this group across the nation at 60.4%.
Another standout feature of this year’s results is the retention rate, which stands at 70.0%. This is the highest retention rate for the province since 2021, signalling an encouraging trend that more learners are completing their studies on schedule, ready to embark on their future careers.
The achievements are not merely statistical; they represent individual stories of perseverance and success. Abigail Kok, from York High School in George, has been named the top matric candidate for 2025, marking the fifth consecutive year that the top candidate in the country hails from the Western Cape.
In a shining example of determination, Kok also claimed top honours in Physical Science.
Meanwhile, the Class of 2025 saw Takunda Muchuweni from Jan Kriel School in Kuils River, being celebrated as South Africa’s top LSEN candidate another remarkable achievement reflecting the diverse capabilities highlighted in this year’s results.
In a salutation to the collective effort, Maynier praised educators and parents alike, saying, ‘Thank you to our matric teachers who have done an outstanding job supporting our candidates this year, and to our matric parents, who now get to celebrate this milestone with their children,’
He urged the Class of 2026 to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors, advocating for diligence and commitment in their studies.
On a national horizon, the results have been uniformly positive. Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced a record national matric pass rate of 88%, with KwaZulu-Natal leading the way at 90.6%, followed by the Free State at 89.33% and Gauteng at 89.06%.
Candidates eager to collect their results will find them available through their respective schools and on the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) website at 10h00 tomorrow, 13 January 2026: WCED Results.
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Picture: WCED
