MEDIA STATEMENT
13 January 2026
The South African Democratic Teacher’s Union (SADTU) in the Western Cape congratulates the NSC class of 2025
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) in the Western Cape congratulates the class of 2025 on their outstanding performance in the NSC examinations, released on 12 January 2026.
We salute the educators and learners for their resilience and commitment in achieving record breaking results. It is heartening to see the good performance of our marginalized, disadvantaged schools and we are very proud of our comrades. We also acknowledge the role played by all educators in the system, from our Grade R educators who laid the firm foundation.
The Western Cape achieved its highest ever NSC pass rate of 88,2%, up from 86,6% in 2024. This remarkable achievement reflects the dedication of learners, teachers, parents and other supporting organisations across the province. The key highlights include:
- Bachelor’s pass rate: 49,2%, the highest ever for the province and the second highest nationally.
- Mathematics pass rate: 73,7%, showing strong improvement and competitiveness.
- Physical Science pass rate: 80,6%, the second highest in the country Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN): 91,9%, exceeding expectations and ranking second nationally.
- Learners who are reliant on social grants performed better, highlighting the link between social support and academic support.
- A total of 77,442 candidates wrote the NSC exams of which 67 606 were full time learners.
While the province performed competitively, SADTU WC emphasizes that quality education must go beyond percentages. We remain concerned about the persistent inequalities in the province, particularly in the under-resourced township and rural schools. We call for urgent investment in infrastructure, employment of more educators, teacher development and learner support. The debate around the 30% pass threshold must be addressed to ensure that results reflect genuine learning outcomes and readiness for higher education and employment.
As the Western Cape is rated amongst the most violent provinces, we urge the provincial government to expand psychosocial support and academic support programs, particularly for learners from disadvantaged communities. We also note that the drop-out rate intensifies in Grade 11-12. Retention and support must improve to ensure learners reach their matric year. Mathematics and Physical Science participation is increasing, but performance has declined. Stronger foundational support is needed to balance access to quality public education.
We urge all our unsuccessful learners to pursue rewriting and second chance opportunities. The class of 2025 set new records, and it is our collective responsibility to sustain the momentum and close the gaps that remain.
Issued by Western Cape SADTU Secretariat