The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) congratulates the Class of 2025 on achieving the National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass rate of 88%, the highest in the country’s history.
Kwa-Zulu Natal, the best performing province achieved a 90.6% pass rate despite the budgetary challenges it experienced last year, with educators forced to dig deep into their own pockets to ensure teaching and learning continued. The Free State came in second with an 89.33% pass rate as it slipped from the 91% pass achieved by the Class of 2024, relegating its best performer status to KZN in the process. Gauteng held steady at third position with an 89.06% pass rate.
Notwithstanding the record pass rate, the number of learners who achieved a bachelor’s pass has dropped from 48% in 2024 to 46% in 2025. It is also of concern that only 34% of matriculants wrote mathematics, down from 38% in 2024, with the majority opting for maths literacy. Worse still the mathematics pass rate dropped from 48% in 2024 to 46% in 2025. More must be done to encourage young people to enrol for STEM subjects, plus accompanying support must be provided to ensure they pass these subjects convincingly if the South African economy is to become innovative and competitive.
Whilst more than 900 000 learners sat for the 2025 NSC exam, public universities and TVET colleges only have capacity to take in around 525 000 new entrants. This underpins the crucial role played by SETAs in providing alternative pathways to further study, skills training and employment. Employers often lament the mismatch between the skills needed by organisations and what young applicants bring to the table. Working together, SETAs and industries can bridge this gap and help to reduce the staggering unemployment rate of more than 70% for young people aged between 15 and 24.
COSATU commends the Class of 2025, parents and communities for making the 2025 NSC exam a success despite the various challenges faced by the schooling system including limited resources, violence against both learners and educations, inadequate infrastructure, etc. We applaud our educators, in particular members of our dedicated Affiliate, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) for their commitment and diligence in building the future generation. We assure them of our full support as they continued to shape young adults ready to stake their place in the economy and society.
Issued by COSATU
Zanele Sabela (COSATU Spokesperson)
079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639
