With a pass rate of 85,7% for 2021, the Free State was the best-performing province in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations for the third consecutive year.
It also managed to improve on its 2020 pass rate of 85,1%.
The 2021 matric results were announced on Thursday (20/01).
Of the 36 226 full-time and 7 120 part-time candidates who wrote the NSC examinations in the Free State in 2021, 30 021 passed.
A total of 13 971 learners in the province obtained bachelor’s passes in 2021, compared to 11 462 in 2020. In addition, the number of candidates who qualified for diploma studies increased by 2 008 to 10 836.
According to Tate Makgoe, Free State MEC for Education, 2021 saw an increase of 1 520 learners writing Mathematics. The pass rate in this subject also increased from 66,6% to 66,7%.
“We are delighted that 8 494 learners managed to pass Mathematics in 2021, 1 017 more than in 2020,” he said.
Makgoe praised the class of 2021 for showing resilience in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“They were the first learners to brave two years of high school under Covid-19 restrictions. The pandemic posed unprecedented challenges to these learners in their Gr. 11 and Gr. 12 years.”
Some of these challenges included the continuation of rotational classes, the revision of Annual Teaching Plans, changes to Gr. 11 assessment that placed greater focus on school-based assessment (60%), and the replacement of examinations with controlled tests in Gr. 11.
According to Makgoe, matriculants’ achievements prove that the province is on the right track.
Over the last nine years, the Free State has been the top-performing province on six occasions.
“Well done to the Free State class of 2021. You are simply the best,” said Makgoe.
“This performance demonstrates that the Gr. 12 year on its own does not provide the understanding, perseverance and resilience needed to achieve excellent results in the matric year. Instead, it is a culmination of hard work and learning over 12 to 13 years of quality education.
“It also demonstrates an exceptional amount of discipline.”
- Two of the Free State’s districts count among the three top-achieving districts countrywide. While Tshwane in Gauteng claimed the top spot, Motheo placed second with a pass rate of 87,9% and Fezile Dabi third with 87,5%.
