THE Eden and Central Karoo Education District was the top performing district in the province with a pass rate of 89.28%.
This was an increase of 4.69% compared to the 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) matric results.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) released the breakdown for the pass rate achieved by the various provincial districts in the NSC exams.
The province recorded a 86.6% pass rate, an increase of 5.1%. The province’s bachelor pass rate also increased by 5.6% to 47.8%.
The Eden and Central Karoo Education District’s 89.28% pass rate is the highest pass rate ever achieved by the district in the NSC, Education MEC David Maynier said.
“Congratulations to district director Jewel Jonkers and his team for this excellent achievement. This is my third year celebrating matric results as MEC and it is my third year doing so in the Metro East Education District.
“Gone are the days when Metro East held the bottom spot on the district log. They have gone from strength to strength, and this year have improved their pass rate again, by 4.98% to 88.50%.
“This is again the highest pass rate the district has achieved in the NSC to date. Congratulations to Director Landie Diamond and her team as they continue to drive improvement in the district. Every district in the Western Cape improved their pass rate and every district now has a pass rate above 80% for the first time for 2016,” Maynier said.
• Metro North Education District – 88.46% (+3.06)
Metro North previously achieved 86.2% in 2021 but thereafter saw a dip and recorded an 85.9% pass for both 2022 and 2023.
• Overberg Education District – 88.21% (+4.33)
In Overberg, the district achieved 81.8% in 2021, and then built on those successes managing 84.0% in 2022, and 84.1% in 2023.
• Metro Central Education District – 84.20% (+3.31)
While the Metro Central district has improved, the result is on par with what the district previously achieved in 2021 (84.2%). The achieved 85.2% in 2022, before dropping again to 82.4% achieved in 2023.
• West Coast Education District – 84.19% (+6.50)
The West Coast office managed to reverse their luck as they were on a decline, having achieved 80.7% pass rate in 2021 and then dropping to 79.0% in 2022, and having another decline in 2023 achieving 77.7%.
• Metro South Education District – 83.83% (+5.94)
Metro South was on a similar trajectory as the West Coast district. The district achieved 80.3% in 2021, dropping from that to 79.0% in 2022, and then dropping again to 78.5% in 2023.
• Cape Winelands Education District – 83.44% (+8.83)
The Cape Winelands district had in recent years stayed in the mid-70s range, having achieved 76.5% in 2021, and then improving on that for 2022 with 77.7, but ultimately declining again to 74.7% in 2023.
Maynier said that across the province, they have seen a dramatic decrease in the number of schools achieving a pass rate of below 60%, which is considered to be “underperforming”.
“In 2023, 29 schools were underperforming, and in 2024, there are just 5 schools that did not achieve a pass rate higher than 60%. We will support these schools to improve their results in 2025.”
Equal Education spokesperson, Ayanda Sishi-Wigzell said while celebrating the 2024 NSC achievements said it is important to not be distracted from the systemic injustices and policy failures that force learners to succeed despite the odds, rather than because of the system’s support.
“Education is a fundamental right, not a test of endurance. Protecting and nurturing learner potential requires a transformative commitment from the DBE and government at large to prioritise equitable investment in education, foundational learning, and dignified schooling environments.
“South Africa’s future depends on an education system that does more than produce proteas; it must empower every learner to thrive and blossom, free from the constraints of inequality and neglect,” Sishi-Wigzell said.
Cape Times