Class of 2025 achieves record matric results in Gauteng

Gauteng's matric pass rate of 89.06%, securing third place nationally, has been attributed to dedication, resilience and hard work that proved to be a success to the class of 2025.

MEC for Education Matome Chiloane announced the province's matric results in Centurion, saying the 89.06% pass rate was "remarkable" and the highest in the history of the province.

He praised the class of 2025 for their dedication and hard work, saying their achievement was not a fluke or due to lowered standards. 

"It is not by accident and it is not by lowering standards but it is by the 140,000-plus young people showing up (and) many of them against the odds,” he said.

Chiloane expressed concern that boys are dropping out of the education system early, saying it is a problem the department is tackling.

“In this current year we lost 21% of our learners and that number is disproportionately boys and this is not about capability,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of keeping young men in the system to unlock their potential.

Chiloane expressed concern over a 6% drop in the province's maths pass rate, from 72.7% to 66.7%. Physical science saw a modest improvement from 74.6% to 76.5%, while life science remained strong at 81.94%.

“These are gateway subjects. They open doors to scare skills and economic participation. They determine access to engineering, to science and to technical careers,” he said.

He encouraged the audience to celebrate the province's achievement, highlighting 43,509 distinctions - 20% of the national total.

“In accounting we achieved an 80.1% distinction rate, the highest among all gateway subjects. In accounting overall the pass rate is 78%.,” he said, adding that 66 out of 77 subjects achieved above 90% pass rate.

“Our young people, our learners are demonstrating excellence across all spectrum of disciplines,” Chiloane said.

He hailed Johannesburg West District as the province's standout performer, scoring a 96.2% pass rate and ranking as the country's top district. “And this is for the first time. It is for the third time in a row,” he said.

Tshwane North District also received accolades, scoring 92.03% and ranking fifth nationally, coming in second in the province.

“Overall, 12 of our 16 districts are above the national average of 87.62%. Our first two districts featured in the national top ten,” he said.

Sedibeng East District impressed with the biggest jump, growing 2.24% to boost its pass rate. 

As for the regions, Tshwane scored 90.3%, West district edged up to 89.2%, and Ekurhuleni dipped slightly to 86.8%.

Johannesburg took top spot in the province, beating Tshwane with a 90.6% pass rate. Sedibeng also improved, climbing from 85.5% to 86.8%.

Chiloane said: “So, all our regions have performed above 80% and significantly above 86%. All five showed improvements and sustained performance.”

In the 2025 academic year, he said, 181 schools achieved a 100% pass rate - an increase with 34 new schools joining the ranks.

He also noted that 371 schools achieved a 95% pass rate, with 97.9% of Gauteng schools meeting the 70% national benchmark - up from the previous year.

“We have reduced schools performing below 70% from 34 in 2024 to just 19 schools. In 2025. In this figure only six are public schools. So, the rest are independent schools,”  he said.

Schools scoring below 70% will face intensive support, including meetings with management, improvement plans, and potential staff reviews, he said.

Chiloane singled out Hoerskool Menlo Park in Pretoria, which achieved a 100% pass rate and 98.5% bachelor pass, and Lufhereng Secondary in Soweto, a no-fee township school with a 100% pass rate and 98.4% bachelor pass, for their outstanding performance.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za