Matric pass rate creates a false impression of education – AfriForum

AfriForum takes note of the 2025 matric pass rate, but believes that it creates an inaccurate picture of the true state of affairs in the South African education system, where so many learners never complete their school career. The National Senior Certificate results were announced last night.

Approximately 1.2 million learners began their school career in Grade 1 in 2014. Of these, only 778 000, or approximately 65% ​​of learners, progressed to matric by 2025. The education system has therefore already failed approximately 422 000 learners long before Grade 12.

“When one looks at how many hopeful learners with great potential start grade 1, but ultimately never reach or pass matric, it becomes clear that the problem did not arise in their matric year,” says Carien Bloem, Head of Education Projects at AfriForum. “It is a systematic failure that develops over years and particularly hits children in dysfunctional schools hard.”

AfriForum warns that the high number of dysfunctional schools in South Africa, where teaching is often irregular, inadequate or of poor quality, has a direct impact on learners’ academic performance and long-term prospects. Important skills that learners need to acquire to form a good foundation such as reading, writing, solving mathematical problems, and the development of critical thinking are being neglected, which then negatively affects their later academic success.

“The situation is exacerbated by various irregularities such as the leaking of exam papers, which undermine the credibility of the matriculation examination system and create a false image of performance. These matters do a great injustice to learners who are trying to succeed under difficult circumstances,” says Bloem.

According to AfriForum, this combination of dysfunctional schools, poor governance, lack of accountability and examination irregularities contributes to many learners not receiving the quality of education to which they are entitled. In addition to the negative impact on academics, this also has serious consequences for young people’s access to further study, employment and full participation in the economy.

AfriForum calls on the Department of Basic Education to focus less on the supposedly high matriculation pass rate as a political measure, and to pay more attention to early childhood development, quality education in the foundation phase, the rehabilitation of dysfunctional schools and strict action against examination irregularities.

“The true measure of success in education should not be based solely on the percentage of matriculants who pass matric, but on the number of learners who start with Grade 1, see it through to the end and ultimately leave the education system at the end of matric with the knowledge and skills that enable them to carve out a prosperous future for themselves,” Bloem concludes.