The class of 2013 – best-performing class since 1994

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced on Monday 6 January that the national pass rate for the 2013 National Senior Certificate has increased by 4,3 per cent to 78,2 per cent.

Announcing the results, Motshekga hailed the matric class of 2013 as the best class since 1994.

“Congratulations to the class of 2013 for being the best class since the beginning of democracy. We encourage every matriculant to go further and strive to excel in higher education, the workplace and in your general contributions as South African citizens.”

Over the past few years the pass rate has increased gradually – from 60,6 per cent in 2009 to 60,8 per cent in 2010 and 70,2 per cent in 2011.

“In 1995 the national pass rate was 53,4 per cent and 19 years later the national pass rate is 78,2 per cent. When we came into office in 2009, we aimed for a 75 per cent pass rate by 2014. Now at 78,2 per cent, we have surpassed our target a year earlier,” said Motshekga.

“The standard of our question papers has improved significantly and is comparable to most international bodies,” she added.

Matriculants in the Free State attained the highest matric past rate for 2013 with 87,4 per cent, a 6,3 per cent improvement from 2012’s 81,1 per cent.

Gauteng achieved a 87,2 per cent pass rate, up by 7,7 per cent from 83,9 per cent in 2012.

It is followed by the Western Cape, which recorded a pass rate improvement of 2,3 per cent from 82,8 per cent in 2012 to 87 per cent this year.

Mpumalanga achieved a 77,6 per cent pass rate, up from 70 per cent in 2012 – an improvement of 7,6 per cent.

Motshekga said that KwaZulu-Natal improved its pass rate from 73,1 per cent in 2012 to 77,4 per cent in 2013 – a 4,3 per cent improvement.

The Western Cape, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape have pass rates of 74,5 per cent, 71,8 per cent and 64,9 per cent respectively.