Matric results show government’s investment in education: Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa says that the 2025 Matric results released last week show the value of investment that government has made in education.

The President says the efforts made have ensured that all children regardless of their background and gender, have access to quality education.

Last week, the Matric Class of 2025 achieved the highest pass rate in the country’s history, coming in at 88%.

Ramaphosa has also raised concerns on the number of pupils who have been unable to conclude their schooling since entering the basic education system in 2014, as well as a drop in the performance of mathematics and accounting.

Ramaphosa has also raised concerns over the number of learners who left the schooling system. He says that nearly half a million children who began schooling in 2014 could not complete matric.

The President has also highlighted the drop in performance in subjects like mathematics and accounting. He says while more learners are taking on the subjects, there has been a drop in the pass rate.

He has emphasised that mathematics and accounting are needed by learners to excel if they are to succeed in a rapidly changing economy.

Dear Fellow South African,

Last week the Minister of Basic Education announced that the Matric Class of 2025 had made history by achieving the highest pass rate in our country’s history. More than 650,000 learners passed the National Senior Certificate, achieving a pass rate… pic.twitter.com/osqp9P9nTZ

— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) January 19, 2026