Amajuba District Schools Excel in 2025 Matric Exams: Detailed School Performance List

The Matric Class of 2025 has delivered South Africa’s strongest National Senior Certificate (NSC) performance on record, achieving an 88% pass rate – the highest in the country’s democratic history.

As a result, this outcome marks a significant moment for the basic education system, particularly at a time when persistent concerns continue to surround quality, access and long-term skills development.

According to the Department of Basic Education, the national pass rate represents an increase of approximately 0.7 percentage points from 2024.

These figures were formally announced by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube during the official release ceremony on Monday evening, 12 January 2026, at Mosaïek Church in Fairlands.

In total, more than 900 000 full-time and part-time candidates wrote the matric examinations at approximately 6 000 centres nationwide. Not only does this make the Class of 2025 the largest cohort ever to sit for the NSC, but it also underscores the logistical magnitude of administering the examinations. Of these candidates, over 656 000 learners successfully passed.

Congratulating the Class of 2025, Gwarube acknowledged the pressures many learners faced throughout their schooling careers.

She said, “To the Class of 2025, I say: congratulations on a record-breaking 88% pass rate. Siyazingca ngani. Nisebenzile. You have shown resilience – not only in these examinations, but across years of learning in a country that has asked much of you. South Africa sees you. And to the learners of our no-fee schools: you have shown the country what is possible. You have proven that talent lives everywhere and that when we strengthen the roots, hope becomes an outcome, not a slogan.”

However, beyond celebrating the achievement, the Minister also sought to address ongoing scepticism around matric results.

Speaking to educators, learners, parents and stakeholders, she confirmed that the outcomes had been quality-assured and approved by Umalusi, the statutory body responsible for maintaining standards. As a result, she stressed the credibility of the process, stating, “We can have confidence: these results are earned, not gifted. South Africans, we must also put a stubborn myth to rest: 30% is not ‘the matric pass mark’. The NSC is earned by meeting minimum requirements across a full subject package – including higher thresholds in key subjects, with different pass types that open different pathways after school.”

While the headline figure represents a new national high, a closer examination reveals a more complex picture. On the one hand, the proportion of Bachelor passes – which provide access to university degree studies – declined from 48% in 2024 to 46% in 2025.

On the other hand, in absolute terms, more learners than ever before achieved Bachelor passes, with numbers increasing by 8 700 to over 345 000 candidates. Therefore, the growth reflects the expanded candidate pool rather than a substantial improvement in academic performance.

Similarly, Diploma passes accounted for 28% of results, while 13.5% of candidates achieved Higher Certificate passes.

Collectively, these categories offer alternative pathways into post-school education and training, thereby broadening access beyond traditional university routes.

In addition, the results point to greater system stability. Most candidates wrote matric at the expected age of 18. Furthermore, the number of learners unable to complete their exam papers has declined sharply – from about 17% in 2017 to around 2% in 2025. As a result, education analysts interpret this trend as evidence of improved learner retention and more efficient school administration.

Despite the overall progress, performance in key gateway subjects remains a major concern.

For instance, the Mathematics pass rate declined from 69% to 64%, while Accounting dropped from 81% to 78%. In contrast, Physical Science recorded a marginal improvement, rising from 76% to 77%. Nevertheless, these subjects remain critical for entry into scarce-skills sectors such as engineering, technology and finance.

Moreover, only 34% of candidates wrote Mathematics, with the majority opting for Mathematical Literacy. Consequently, education experts warn that this trend could have long-term implications for economic growth and workforce development.

Acknowledging this challenge, Gwarube said, “So, as we celebrate, we do so with clear eyes. The next phase is about deeper mastery – especially in gateway subjects. It is about increasing the number of learners taking and excelling in Mathematics, Physical Science and other gateway subjects with support, so opportunity expands without quality collapsing.”

Meanwhile, provincial results reflect a broadly positive national picture, although disparities persist.

• KwaZulu-Natal’s performance forms part of the wider trend, as South Africa recorded its highest-ever pass rate of 90.6% – a 0.7% increase from 2024.
• Coming in at second place, the Free State achieved a pass rate of 89.33%. Closely following was Gauteng at 89.06%, while North West recorded 88.49%. Subsequently, the Western Cape posted 88.20%.
• In addition, the Northern Cape achieved a pass rate of 87.79%, marking a notable improvement. Mpumalanga followed with 86.55%, while Limpopo increased to 86.15%.
• Finally, the Eastern Cape – historically among the weaker-performing provinces – recorded a pass rate of 84.17%.

With KZN performing well at a national level, we now take a closer look at the top performing districts in the country:

• Johannesburg West in Gauteng achieved a 96.20% pass rate.
• Umkhanyakude District in KwaZulu-Natal with a pass rate of 93.63%,
• Overberg District in the Western Cape achieved a pass rate of 92.36%.
• Pinetown in KZN secured a pass rate of 92.20%.
• Tshwane North District in Gauteng achieved a pass rate of 92.03%.
• The Mangaung Metropolitan in the Free State also secured a pass rate of 92.03%.
• Umlazi in KZN obtained a pass rate of 91.98%.
• The Ugu District in KZN saw its pass rate 91.50%.
• Amajuba District in KwaZulu-Natal obtained a pass rate of 91.26%.

With the Amajuba District seeing its schools perform exceptionally well, so much so that the District which houses Newcastle, Dannhauser, and Utrecht ranking tenth in the country, we now take a closer at exactly how the Districts schools really did.

Amajuba District: Complete School Performance List (2025)

School Name	Progressed (PN)	Total Wrote (TW)	Total Achieved (TA)	% Achieved
Amadada High School	2	84	72	85.7%
Amajuba High School	0	79	75	94.9%
Amazulu High School	1	185	162	87.6%
Bethamunye High School	42	235	217	92.3%
Buhlebomzinyathi Secondary School	1	96	70	72.9%
Cacamezela Secondary	29	191	176	92.1%
Charlestown High	0	117	97	82.9%
Dannhauser High	0	101	100	99.0%
Dedangifunde High	2	288	247	85.8%
DNC Combined	0	67	64	95.5%
Duck Ponds High	8	215	184	85.6%
Ekuseni Secondary School	0	8	8	100.0%
Empunweni M	24	121	106	87.6%
Enzimane Combined	0	17	14	82.4%
Ferrum High	0	208	204	98.1%
Groenvlei Combined	0	17	17	100.0%
Hlalanathi High	0	216	180	83.3%
Hope High	0	112	107	95.5%
Ikhwezi High	3	102	91	89.2%
Impala High	0	58	44	75.9%
Indonsa Ssecondary	0	174	164	94.3%
Ingabade High	0	107	88	82.2%
Inzululwazi Secondary	0	14	14	100.0%
Isikhululiwe High	33	264	226	85.6%
Isipho-Semvelo High	0	104	93	89.4%
Islamic College Newcastle	1	29	26	89.7%
Izazi Secondary	0	268	252	94.0%
Kadwa Secondary	1	102	94	92.2%
Khethukuthula Secondary	0	85	70	82.4%
Kwamagidela Secondary	1	134	107	79.9%
Lembeila Secondary	0	23	21	91.3%
Lincoln Heights Secondary	10	136	126	92.6%
Malambule Secondary	0	111	105	94.6%
Mana High	0	231	210	90.9%
Mashayambisane Secondary	0	238	222	93.3%
Mbusowethu High	0	143	134	93.7%
Mlokotshwa High School	0	98	94	95.9%
Mnyamande S	0	268	246	91.8%
Muzokwanyayo S	0	195	195	100.0%
Mzamo H	0	133	112	84.2%
Mzimuhle H	2	84	74	88.1%
Ncandu Combined	1	35	27	77.1%
Ndwakazana Combined	0	27	20	74.1%
Newcastle High	0	161	160	99.4%
Ngcaka Combined	0	17	17	100.0%
Nhlosokuhle Secondary	4	115	102	88.7%
Oizwayini High	0	73	63	86.3%
Panorama Combined	1	115	109	94.8%
Phathakahle High	0	108	91	84.3%
Phendukani Secondary	0	258	254	98.4%
Sabella Secondary	0	106	101	95.3%
Sekusile Secondary School	7	100	92	92.0%
Sizwe Secondary School	17	167	154	92.2%
Siyabonga Secondary School	0	36	31	86.1%
Siphuthando Public Combined	3	138	127	92.0%
Siyalungelwa Secondary School	1	85	81	95.3%
Sleutelfontein Combined	1	35	32	91.4%
Somshameni High School	0	124	106	85.5%
St Dominics Newcastle	0	48	48	100.0%
St Lewis High School	12	185	170	91.9%
St Oswalds Secondary School	0	224	218	97.3%
Thubelihle Secondary School	0	186	172	92.5%
Thulasizwe Secondary School	0	114	101	88.6%
Tugela High School	2	134	122	91.0%
Utrecht High School	0	54	52	96.3%
Vezobuhle Secondary School	0	102	95	93.1%
Vuka Secondary School	4	117	104	88.9%
Vukile Secondary School	0	124	118	95.2%
Vuthelani Secondary School	0	74	68	91.9%
Vuvumane Secondary School	0	16	13	81.3%
Wykeham Secondary School	0	19	19	100.0%
Zama Secondary School	32	215	194	90.2%
Zibonele Secondary School	0	84	72	85.7%
Zithelene Secondary School	0	112	104	92.9%

Furthermore, ongoing pressures in gateway subjects such as Mathematics, Physical Science, and Accounting underscore the need for targeted interventions to strengthen skills in areas critical for economic growth and post-school opportunities.

As great drivers of education, Newcastillian News congratulates all matric students.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know below.

Want to compare a previous year’s results? Then be sure to read, Historic achievement: Matric Class of 2023 hits record pass rate.