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KZN tops the matric rankings for the first time and says the real work starts now
KwaZulu-Natal has officially rewritten the matric record books. For the first time since the start of democracy, the province has emerged as South Africa’s top-performing region in the National Senior Certificate exams, posting an impressive 90.6% pass rate for the class of 2025.
The announcement was made in Randburg, Johannesburg, where Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube revealed the national results. Across the country, the class of 2025 achieved a new high, lifting the national pass rate to 88%, the strongest performance South Africa has ever recorded.
A first-place moment years in the making
KwaZulu-Natal’s rise to the top has been closely watched. For several years, the Free State had dominated the national rankings, holding onto first place since 2019. This year, that changed, with the Free State moving into second position, followed closely by Gauteng and the North West.
Speaking after the announcement, KZN Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka described the achievement as historic but also as a starting point rather than a final destination. His message was clear: this result did not happen by chance, and it will not be treated as a once-off victory.
Success under pressure
What makes KwaZulu-Natal’s result particularly striking is the context behind it. The province continues to face budget constraints, infrastructure damage, and shortages of essential learning materials in some areas. Despite these pressures, education leaders say difficult decisions were made to prioritise what matters most.
Behind the scenes, schools that struggled in 2024 were identified early and supported, with educators, unions, and provincial officials working together to stabilise performance. According to the department, this collective approach helped prevent learners from falling through the cracks.
Building strong foundations early
A recurring theme from provincial and national leaders was the importance of early education. The strong matric showing, they said, reflects years of groundwork laid in primary schools. Learners arriving in high school better prepared were more likely to cope with the academic demands of matric.
This view was echoed at the national level, with Minister Gwarube cautioning that without solid foundations in the early years, inequality simply resurfaces later. The 2025 results, she noted, suggest a system that is becoming more stable, more inclusive, and more resilient.
How South Africans reacted
News of KZN’s top spot sparked widespread reaction online, with educators and parents celebrating a moment many believed was long overdue. On social media, teachers shared pride in their schools, while former pupils spoke about the province finally receiving recognition for work often done under tough conditions.
For many families, the results also brought a sense of relief, particularly after years of uncertainty caused by economic strain and lingering effects from earlier disruptions in the education system.
What comes next for KZN
Preparations for the 2026 academic year are already underway in KwaZulu-Natal. School visits, early engagement with learners, and continued monitoring of underperforming schools form part of the province’s plan to slow down any backsliding.
The goal, according to education leaders, is not just to defend the number one position but to prove that this level of performance can be sustained. If the systems now in place hold, KwaZulu-Natal’s historic moment in 2025 may well become a new normal rather than a peak.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: News24
