The Free State has achieved an 88,5% matric pass rate in the 2022 academic year, retaining the top spot among the nine provinces. This pass rate is an improvement on the 2021 pass rate of 85,7%, as well as the 2020 pass rate of 85,1%.
This achievement sees the Free State continuing as the best-performing province in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations for the fourth consecutive year.
The province also had two districts leading in the top three nationally, with Motheo attaining a 90,8% pass rate, followed by Fezile Dabi with a 90,4% pass rate.
The Xhariep and Thabo Mofutsanyana districts secured positions six and seven, respectively.
Tate Makgoe, Free State MEC for Education, has heaped praise onto the matrics of 2022 for improving the pass rate and making a concerted effort towards the ultimate goal of a 100% pass rate. This group of Gr. 12 learners is yet another class to make it through the global Covid-19 pandemic, and also to show resilience in the midst of ongoing loadshedding.
“The outstanding performance of the Free State class of 2022 under these trying conditions underscores the importance of years of good, solid teaching and learning prior to Gr. 12,” said Makgoe.
“This performance also demonstrates an exceptional amount of discipline. We have seen a decline in serious irregularities among the class of 2022.”
About 15 754 learners achieved bachelors passes in 2022, while in the previous year it was 13 971. The number of diploma passes increased last year and the province reached 27 218, while in 2021 the number was 24 807.
“The building blocks are firmly in place. Our provincial strategy for improving literacy and numeracy has assisted in improving education quality,” said Makgoe.
The best performers were announced and awarded prizes at the Free State Department of Education’s well-done function on Friday (20/01) at the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, Bloemfontein campus.
Emma Nel of the Eunice High School in Bloemfontein and Torino Malik Shunga of the Reahola Secondary School in Phuthaditjhaba were announced as the top performer and the best candidate, respectively.
