JOHANNESBURG – The 2025 matric results have marked the end of an era in South African education. For the first time since 2018, the Free State is not the country’s top-performing province, bringing a close to its remarkable six-year reign at the summit of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) rankings.
This historic shift comes as the new champion, KwaZulu-Natal, executed a detailed strategic plan to claim the top spot, achieving a 90.6% pass rate.
The Free State, which achieved a stellar 91% pass rate for the Class of 2024, had been the consistent benchmark for excellence. As reported in 2024 matric results, the province topped the national matric pass rate for a 6th consecutive year. Its record of sustained high performance is unparalleled in recent history:
- 2024: 91.0%
- 2023: 89.0%
- 2022: 88.5%
- 2021: 85.7%
- 2020: 85.1%
- 2019: 88.4%
In the 2025 results announced by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, the Free State achieved a pass rate of 89.33%—a result that maintains its position as a top-tier performer but was overtaken by KZN’s surge. This ended a dynasty that began in 2019 when it took the number one position from Gauteng, which was the top province in 2018 with 87.9%.
What This Historic Shift Means
This change signals a dynamic and competitive provincial landscape. KZN’s ascent demonstrates that targeted investment and execution can disrupt long-standing hierarchies. While dethroned, the Free State’s performance remains exceptionally strong. It continues to be a powerhouse, celebrated for its robust district support systems and consistent quality outputs.
Minister Gwarube highlighted the broader trend in her 2025 NSC results announcement, noting that “excellence is spreading into communities that have carried the heaviest burdens.” This provincial shift is perhaps the strongest evidence yet of that spreading excellence.
The Minister also provided context for the national system’s health, stating: “We are reaching more learners in Grade 12 than at any other point in decades. However, quantity is only the starting point. The next phase is about quality.” This underscores that competition among top provinces is now intensifying on the grounds of foundational learning and deeper academic outcomes, not just pass rates.
The Free State’s legacy of half a decade at the top sets a formidable standard that will now challenge the new champion and other contenders like Gauteng and the Western Cape in the years to come.
As the 2025 IEB results showed in the independent schooling sector, competition is high across both public and private schools, making foundational quality the key focus moving forward.
Learners can access their individual 2025 matric results via official channels. For KZN learners, results are available on the KZN Department of Education portal, while other learners can use the DBE National Results Portal or provincial portals such as the Gauteng Results Portal. Mobile options are also available via SMS and USSD.
To plan ahead, consult the 2026 school calendar for public schools.
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