Celebrating Ethan Naicker: KwaZulu-Natal's top matric achiever of 2025
Ethan Naicker from Port Shepstone Secondary School was named as the top matric achiever in KwaZulu-Natal.
Image: Supplied
Ethan Naicker, from Port Shepstone Secondary School, was named as KwaZulu-Natal's top matric achiever at the provincial matric awards ceremony on Tuesday.
Naicker, whose academic journey has been marked by consistent growth and resilience, addressed provincial leadership, MECs, principals, educators, parents, and fellow top achievers, describing the moment as a significant milestone.
“It is both an honour and a privilege to speak on behalf of this absolutely outstanding class,” he said.
According to his citation, Naicker demonstrated sustained academic improvement throughout his schooling at Port Shepstone Secondary School, overcoming personal challenges with determination and discipline.
From an early age, he developed a strong curiosity for learning, with particular strengths in Mathematics and Physical Sciences. His academic profile reflects strong analytical abilities, problem-solving skills, and strategic thinking, which contributed to steady progress from primary through secondary school.
In his address, Naicker reflected on the collective experience of the matric class of 2025, acknowledging the difficulties they faced.
“I think we can all agree 2025 was not an easy year,” he said. “It had its ups, it had its downs, and it had a lot of grey areas, but we persevered.”
He spoke candidly about the emotional and mental demands of the year, noting that success came at a cost. “There were a lot of nights filled with hard work, tears, and a lot of times when we wanted to quit. But we stuck it through and came to where we are.”
Naicker emphasised that academic success is rarely achieved in isolation, expressing gratitude to those who supported the learners throughout their journeys.
He thanked families and friends “for the support they provided us along the way and who kept pushing us forward, even when we doubted ourselves.”
These are the top matric achievers in KwaZulu-Natal.
Image: KZN Education Department
He also acknowledged the vital role played by schools, commending “our principals and our educators for being our, so to speak, lighthouses when our academic ships went astray.”
He further extended appreciation to the provincial authorities, adding, “Most importantly, thank you to the KZN Department of Education for inviting us all here for this incredible honour.”
As he concluded, Naicker reminded his peers that matric marks the end of one chapter and not the whole journey.
“While this chapter of our lives may be over, there’s still much more to come,” he said, urging the class of 2025 to embrace the future with confidence. “So, power up those engines, go full steam ahead, and do amazing things, as I’m sure we are all capable of.”