The 2024 matriculants were in high spirits yesterday after they received their final exam results.

On Monday, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced that the cohort had scored an 87.3% pass rate in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams - the highest in the country's history.

The pass rate increased by 4.4% from 82.9% in 2023. It was 80.1% in 2022 and 76.4% in 2021.

All nine provinces scored above 84% with 47.8% of matriculants earning passes good enough for university entry.

The Western Cape scored a pass rate of 86.6%, behind top-ranked Free State with 91%, KwaZulu-Natal with 89.5%, Gauteng with 88.4% and North West with 87.5%, and ahead of Limpopo with 85%, Mpumalanga with 84.99%, Eastern Cape with 84.98% and Northern Cape with 84.2%.

In Tabletalk’s distribution area, Sunningdale Private School, Elkanah House, Parklands College, and Tafelberg School had 100% pass rates for 2024.

Elkanah House principal Vivienne Jones said: “ These results are not just numbers; they are a testament to the dedication, perseverance, and resilience of our students. Behind each symbol is a story of hard work, and the unwavering support of teachers and parents.”

Elkanah House top achievers are Havana Skinner with eight distinctions, Giselle Pretorius with seven distinctions and 99% in maths, and Kristen Engelbrecht with seven distinctions and 100% for visual arts.

Sinenjongo High School in Joe Slovo Park had an 88.2% pass rate, only slightly down from 88.7% the previous year. The school’s top achiever, Junior Kondwani Nyirenda, had six distinctions.

He said he was both shocked and excited about his results, adding that his hard work had paid off.

“I identified my challenges and (learning areas) that I was struggling with, and then identified how I can improve. For example, my physical science marks have improved tremendously, and that’s a subject that I was struggling with,” he said.

Bloubergrant Secondary School had a 93.9% pass rate, up from 92% in 2023; Bosmansdam High School scored 94.9%, down from 96.7%; Buren High School scored 89.7%, down from 90.7%; Edgemead High scored 95.9%, down slightly from 95.8%; Melkbos High scored 97.1%, down from 98%; Milnerton High scored 98.7%, down from 99.5% and Dunoon’s Inkwenkwezi Secondary School scored 81.6%, up from 79.5%.

Elkanah House top achiever Havana Skinner received eight distinctions. Picture: Supplied

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