90.6% success: MEC Hlomuka breaks down KZN’s #1 matric ranking

KwaZulu-Natal's public education system achieved the country's strongest matric performance in 2025, with an overall pass rate of 90.6% and the highest number of bachelor passes nationally.

This success comes despite mounting pressure from population growth, overcrowded classrooms, and persistent infrastructure shortages, MEC for Education Sipho Hlomuka said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the provincial National Senior Certificate results announcement at the Durban International Convention Centre, Hlomuka described KwaZulu-Natal as “the province of hope,” stating that the education system continues to perform despite the difficult conditions faced throughout the year.

“It feels good to be the number one province,” he said. “The province of hope, because we remain hopeful even in many hopeless situations facing the Department of Education.”

Hlomuka confirmed that KZN is the best-performing province in the country for the 2025 examinations, achieving an overall pass rate of 90.6%.

A total of 195,899 candidates wrote the 2025 National Senior Certificate examinations in the province - the largest cohort of candidates. He added that the province had also produced the highest number of bachelor passes nationally.

He rejected the view that quality outcomes could only be achieved in well-resourced schools, saying the province’s results were rooted in schools facing significant challenges.

“What makes KwaZulu-Natal’s results remarkable is that the quality comes from the ground,” Hlomuka said.

“It comes from schools facing infrastructure challenges in various districts of the province. It comes from schools that lack resources.”

Despite these constraints, he said educators and learners remained committed. “We have limited resources, but our educators and learners are committed,” he said.

Hlomuka warned, however, that population growth continued to place increasing strain on the education system.

“KwaZulu-Natal continues to experience daily population growth, which has direct implications for the education sector,” Hlomuka said. “As the number of children increases, the demand for schools, classrooms, teachers, and educational resources also rises.”

While population growth created opportunities for social and economic development, he cautioned that it also required careful planning. “Overcrowding, teacher shortages, and limited learning materials can hinder quality education if not addressed,” he said.

Hlomuka said the department’s response included expanding learner enrolment, building new schools, and strengthening support systems to ensure growth did not undermine quality.

“As the population grows, so does the responsibility to provide quality education that equips learners to contribute meaningfully to society and the economy,” he said.

He noted that the class of 2025 would be entering higher education and the economy at a significant historical moment, as South Africa marks 50 years since the 1976 student uprisings. He said access to education today was a direct result of past struggles for educational justice.

Hlomuka also acknowledged the role of government policy in shaping the current system and reiterated the province’s commitment to implementing education reforms.

The results, he said, demonstrated that KwaZulu-Natal’s education system could deliver at scale, even while navigating structural challenges linked to growth, inequality, and limited resources.

THE MERCURY