2024 NSC EXAMINATION RESULTS RELEASE

MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE HON. F GADE, MPL AND MEC

FOR EDUCATION

HON. PREMIER
MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
CHAIR OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
HON. MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE
ALL TEACHER UNIONS
ALL SGB ASSOCIATIONS
EASTERN CAPE ADVISORY COUNCIL
MEMBERS OF THE 4TH ESTATE
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

1. INTRODUCTION

It gives me pleasure to give announce on the performance

of the Eastern Cape in the 2024 National Senior Certificate
Examinations. The Grade 12 class of 2024 is the 11th cohort
to sit for the National Senior Certificate Examination based on
CAPS. It is a cohort that entered Grade 1 in 2013. They most
probably had a fairly stable and conducive teaching and learning
environment up to 2019, when their Grade 8 class was affected
by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Their Grade 9 year, which is crucial for subject selection for entry
into Grade 10, was equally disrupted. They transitioned to the

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Further Education and Training (FET) phase in 2022 with a lot of
curriculum trimmings. When schooling resumed into full mode
in 2022, they were subsequently re-introduced to June Exams,
and also the resumption of normal School- Based Assessment
modalities (Orals, PATs from Grades 09-12).

The Class of 2024 represents a watershed period in the learner

performance trajectory of the Eastern Cape, characterized by
unprecedented improvements in average pass, bachelor passes,
subjects pass marks, as well as performance by examination
centers. The year 2024 is also marked by improved quality of
School Based Assessment submitted to Umalusi for resulting.
The emphasis on quality SBA has paid off handsomely again in
2024.

2. COPE AND SCALE OF THE 2024 EXAMINATIONS

The 2024 national senior certificate public examinations

catered for 117 767 candidates made up of 102 073 full
time registered candidates of which 99739 writing in
965 centres and 15 694 registered part time candidates
of which 9498 wrote in 135 examination centres. The
process of writing, marking and resulting was conducted
with credibility and high level of integrity. The examinations
were conducted over a period of 6 weeks, making it
close to 44 weekdays. It was a big national project that
involved over 12 00 invigilators and officials across the
1099 examination centres.

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 The only blemish was the high number of reported
criminal incidents in the communities where candidates
and schools are located. The unfortunate incident was
that of five candidates’ gang- raped while preparing for
their examinations in OR Tambo. However, these kids
insisted on writing despite their demise, and I am happy
to report that they all obtained Bachelor passes and have
joined us for the ceremony.
We unfortunately had unconventionally high number of
learners who fell ill during the writing of examinations
amounting to 70, however, the good news is that 64 of
them managed to complete their examinations.

3. PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW

3.1. PROVINCIAL OVERALL PASS RATE

The Class of 2024 obtained 84.9% pass percentage, a

3.56% improvement to 81.4% pass mark of the Class
of 2023. Over the term, this represents a shift from the
76.5% of 2019 to 84.9% in 2024, representing a 4.17%
shift over the term. The Eastern Cape has produced a
total of 352 524 passes over the term from 2020 to 2024.

3.2. BACHELOR PASSES

The number of Bachelor passes increased by 6.1 % from

39.6% in 2024 to 45.7% in 2025. In real terms it means
45 662 of the 99 739 learners obtained a Bachelor pass

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 in 2024. Over the term from 2020 to 2024, the Eastern
Cape has produced 171 804 Bachelor passes.

3.3. DISTINCTIONS

Equally improving is the number of distinctions over the

last 5 years, moving from 29 064 in 2020 to 35 640 in
2024. Year on year improvement have equally scaled up
from 4.2% in 2023 to 5% in 2024. This is evident in the
quality of passes in each subject written in 2024.

3.4. SUBJECT PERFORMANCE

Subject performance, across spectrum, improved in

2024. Of the 56 subjects that were written,30 subjects
have shown an upward trajectory, and only 14 subjects
dropped by low margins. High enrolment subjects, with
no less than 10 000 learners for the specific subject,
exhibited commendable improvements, with Mathematics,
Physics and History showing unprecedented upward
trajectories. Trends analysis between 2022 and 2024
shows the following commendable subject performance
improvements:

3.4.1. HOME LANGUAGES

• Home Languages improved commendably in 2024.

• Afrikaans improved from 88,5% to 92.1%
• English Home improved 90.1% to 94.8%

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 • IsiXhosa improved from 99,7% to 99.9%
• SeSotho improved from 99,7% to 99.9%
• Sign Language improved from 75% to 85%

3.4.2. GATEWAY SUBJECTS

In gateway subjects, 9 out of 10 improved

commendably.
• Accounting improved from 76.7% to 81%
• Agricultural Sciences improved from 83,9% to 89%
• Business Studies improved from 81,9% to 85.6%
• Economics improved from 78.3% to 81.6%
• Geography improved from 87% to 88.9%
• Life Sciences improved from 76,6% to 83%
• Physical Science improved from 75% to 75.2%
• Mathematics improved from 57,4% to 62.2%
• Mathematical Literacy improved from 80.6% to
84.5%

Only History saw a slight decline from 90% to 88.6%

in 2024. However, all high enrolment subjects that had
declined in 2023, improved commendably in 2024, and
these are:
• Accounting
• Economics
• Mathematical Literacy

Before I step into the centre performance, I am proud to

announce that we have yet again sent candidates to be

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 the Eastern Cape representatives in the Minister’s
national awards as her special guests. These candidates
are: Sivikele Majebe from Xolilizwe Senior Secondary
School in Amathole East and Kwazi Sitsheke from
Tutor Ndamase Senior Secondary School from OR
Tambo Coastal and both of them are amongst us.
Well done! You have made the province proud.

3.5. CENTRE PERFORMANCE

The province presented 965 full-time examination

centres, and 857 of these centres performed at 80% and
above, representing 88.8% of our schools. Worth noting
is the change in the number of schools that changed the
trajectory:
• The number of schools performing at 70% and below
has reduced from 95 to 65, meaning that only 8.4% of
our schools perform at 70% and below
• The number of schools performing above 90% pass
has improved from to 254 to 382.

3.6. QUITILE PERFORMANCE

The bulk of schools with improved performance are in

Quintiles 1-3. This means Quintiles 1-3 schools constitute
76% of schools and are now obtaining a pass mark in the
average of 80% and above. Trends are:
• Quintile 1 schools from 81.3% pass to 85.5% in 2024
• Quintile 2 schools improved from 82% to 84.8%

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 • Quintile 3 schools improved from 79.3% to 82.9%
• Quintiles 4 and 5 schools are now operating at 90%
• Quintile 4 schools were the most improved, from
79.1% to 90.1%.
• Quintile 5 schools improved marginally from 93.5 to
94.3%. However, not a single Quintile 5 school in the
Eastern Cape has performed below 80% in the last 3
years

3.7. DISTRICT PERFORMANCE

3.7.1. TOP 5 DISTRICTS

District performance took a new turn in 2024, with 11

Districts performing above 80%, with only one District
remaining at upper 70%. Six more Districts, compared
to 2023, have joined the 80% benchmark. The top 5
performing District in 2024 are:
• Chris Hani East is number 1 at 88.5%, a 4,5%
improvement from 84% in 2023
• Amathole East is number 2 at 87.8%, a 5.4%
• improvement from 82.4% in 2023
• Alfred Nzo West is number 3 at 86,9%, a 2.1.%
improvement from 84.2% in 2023
• Nelson Mandela is number4 at 86.7%% a 3.6%
improvement from 83.1%
• Nzo East is number 5 at 85,9%, a 0.8%
improvement from 85.1 in 2023o 77,0%

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3.7.2. MOST IMPROVED DISTRICTS

• OR Tambo Coastal is the most improved District

at 5.5% improvement, from 78.3% to 83.9% in 2024
• Amathole East is the second most improved by 5.3%,
from 82.4% to 87.2% in 2024
• Chris Hani East is the third most improved by 4.4%,
from 84% to 88.5%

3.7.3. TOP 5 BACHELOR PASS BY DISTRICTS

District Bachelor pass rate has improved

commendably. Only 5 of the 12 Districts performed
below the Provincial average of 45%% bachelor
passes, and only 2 below 40%, with 10 of the 12
Districts performing above 40%. Here is the rundown
of the top 4 performing Districts in Bachelor passes:

• Chris Hani East at 52.2% is the top with 7%

improvement from 45.1%
• Amathole East at 50.9% is the second highest with
9% improvement from 41%
• Alfred Nzo West is the third highest with 6.6%
improvement from 42.2%
• BCM is the fourth at 48.8% with 4% improvement
from 42.6%

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4. 2024 GRADE 12 COHORT IN CONTEXT

Ladies and Gentlemen, these improvements would not

have happened if collaboration with Teacher Unions in
the Province was non-existent. It was most useful when
it came to management of extra demands on teacher‘s
time. This helped in creating a conducive environment for
teaching and learning.

5. CURRICULUM INTERVENTIONS DURING 2024

Curriculum interventions were based on basic principles

of improving curriculum performance. The intervention
programmes for the academic year included extra tuition
classes (in the form of morning and afternoon classes,
weekend classes and vacation classes), streaming of
virtual lessons, provision of additional Learner Support
Material, additional assessment activities (ranged from
topic tests, mock exams and pre-June and pre-Trial
examinations).

5.1. MORNING AND AFTERNOON CLASSES

Extra classes were planned and managed at school

level by the HoDs and the teachers concerned. These
classes were conducted to extend educator-learner
contact time. The focus in terms 1 and 2 was on pacing
up content coverage and term 3 and 4 the focus was on
consolidation and practice. Subject advisors had a duty
to play oversight role and also to monitor and support the
programme.

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5.2. AUTUMN CLASSES

Autumn Classes were conducted at the end of term 1 to

deal with learning losses, consolidate content coverage
and revise challenging topics. Autumn classes were
planned by districts in conjunction with head office.

5.3. WINTER CLASSES

Winter Classes were planned on the basis of challenging

topics in terms 1 and 2, and then developed interventions
based on differentiated learner support approach per
subject. The target was on subjects that underperformed
as per term 1 and term 2 analyses. The focus fell on
recovering learning losses, consolidating conceptual
development, revision of challenging topics, as well as
and introducing new term 3 topics.

5.4. SPRING CLASSES

Spring school classes focused on recovering learning

losses, consolidating conceptual development, as well
as preparing learners for the final examinations. During
this period extensive revision strategies were employed
focusing on high enrolment subjects and high risk subjects
identified during the Preparatory Examinations.

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5.5. VIRTUAL LESSONS

Virtual classes aimed at supporting teaching and facilitate

learning in all subjects. These lessons also targeted
learners with no educators. During examinations time,
virtual revision classes were conducted for all subjects
with special focus on Accounting, Mathematics and
Science.

5.6. ONLINE SUPPORT FOR GRADE 12 LEARNERS

The ECDOE developed a variety of online Learner

Support Materials, uploaded on the department’s
websites together with previous years’ question papers.
Districts and schools were made aware of the material.
Useful websites to access these resources are ECDOE
websites at www.eccurriculum.co.za and www.ecexams.
co.za.

7. SUPPORT FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

The province is grateful for the support it obtained from a number

of partners, ranging from Local Municipality efforts, private
NGOs and SOEs. The Department is grateful for collaborations
carried out with Math & Science Infinity, Jenn Consulting, NECT,
Eskom/Trac-SA, as well as Kutlwanong. These organizations
focused on various subjects such as Mathematics, Physical
Sciences and Languages.
The department is equally grateful to the Eastern Cape Gambling
Board for the assistance provided in the form of Science kits for

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subjects like Physical and Technical Sciences.
These partners were helpful in the organization and coordination
of extra tuition classes. Working with Subject Advisors, they
assisted with Differentiated Additional Learner Support Materials,
as well as motivating educators and learners.

8. CONCLUSION
In conclusion I am proud to express that no learners were left
behind in getting opportunity to sit for their NSC examinations.
The key message to unsuccessful candidates is to regroup
and pursue their dreams. To all the successful candidates the
Department wishes them all the best in their future endeavours
and make this province and the country proud. The future of
this country is in your hands, make it work.

I thank you

___________ 14/01/2025
F Gade, MPL and MEC for Education Date
Eastern Cape Department of Education

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