By Lwazi Raul-Shongwe and Kopano Dibakwane
The Mpumalanga Department of Education officially announced the results of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, with the province achieving an overall pass rate of 86.5%. This represents a 1.5% improvement from the 84.99% pass rate achieved in 2024.
The announcement was held at the Lillian Ngozo Centre in Secunda, under the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality.
Mpumalanga Education MEC, Lindi Masina congratulated the class of 2025 for working hard in order to achieve the remarkable outcome.
She also went at length to acknowledge the support shown by Premier Mandla Ndlovu, various stakeholders, as well as educators, parents and communities at large.
“ We are converged here to celebrate the school journey defined by hope, resilience, collaboration and triumph. We gather to honour the class of 2025 and to reflect on a school year that will forever stand as a defining chapter in Mpumalanga’s education story.
“ The year 2025 demonstrated what’s is possible when leadership is decisive, when policy direction is very clear, when communities educators, parents and learners, are mobilised behind a shared and a compelling vision. The honourable Premier, Mandla Ndlovu, led from the front by supporting us as the Department(of Education) from the very first day of school in 2025,” said MEC Masina.
A total of 28,610 learners qualified to register for bachelor programs, an increase from the 27,885 learners who obtained bachelor passes in 2024, while 19,603 learners qualified to enroll for diploma programs, representing an increase of 29.2% compared to the 17,775 who qualified in 2024.
Premier Ndlovu delivered the congratulatory message, thanking everyone who contributed to the success of producing outstanding matric results.
He said his office has received an overwhelming number of applications for the Premier’s Discretionary Bursary Fund, and he assured all applicants that their submissions are receiving our full attention. The final decision on the applications will reportedly be finalised before the end of January 2026.
“ I want to thank you, my beautiful children for finishing a race. Finishing a race is about perseverance and never giving up. We want to assure you that young graduates have real opportunities to enter the job market.
“ We are confronting the main causes of youth unemployment, slow economic growth, lack of work experience, and the unfair reality that many young people need experience to get a job, yet need a job to gain experience,” said Ndlovu.
The province recorded an improvement in the number of learners who obtained distinctions in various subjects.
Masina said the performance of the province’s districts was impressive, with all four districts achieving pass rates above 80%.
District Performance
– Ehlanzeni District achieved an impressive 88.0% pass rate, despite a slight decline from 88.43% in 2024.
– Gert Sibande District registered an impressive 87.1% pass rate, a slight decline from the 87.67% obtained in 2024.
– Nkangala District achieved an impressive 87.4% pass rate, an improvement of 2.1% from 85.24% in 2024.
– Bohlabela District recorded a 83.5% pass rate, improving from 78.6% in 2024, an increase of 4.9%.
School Performance
– Hoërskool Nelspruit is the overall best performing school in the province, with all 275 registered learners passing.
– 56 schools in the province achieved a 100% pass rate, while 379 schools performed between 80% and 99% pass rate bracket.
Support to Learners
– The province recorded a significant improvement in the performance of girl learners, with 49.1% of the total passes being achieved by girls.
– The province also recorded a 62.9% pass rate in Mathematics, despite a decline of 3.4% from the previous year.
Luyanda Ndlozi from Elangwane Secondary School, in Volksrust, stands as Mpumalanga’s top achiever and a top 40 national performer. She drove away in a brand new Toyota Vitz as one of the prizes she collected on the day.
