THE Department of Basic Education (DBE) in South Africa has published the matric results for the 2021 cohort, with the group achieving a pass rate of 76.4%.

This is an increase of 0.2 percentage points compared to the 2020 matric pass rate (76.2%). A total of 256 031 learners received a Bachelor’s degree pass, and with it, possible entry to one of the country’s universities.

The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga said 36.4% of matric students achieved a bachelor’s pass (2020: 36.4%), 25.2% achieved a diploma pass (2020: 26%), and 14.8% achieved a higher certificate pass (2020: 13.7%).

A year earlier, 36.4% of matric students achieved a bachelor’s pass and 26% achieved a diploma pass. A further 13.7% achieved a higher certificate pass.

A total of 897 163 candidates sat to write the 2021 NSC examination – an increase of 23.6% from 2020. This includes 733 198 full-time students, the largest full-time cohort over the last few years. A total of 163 967 part-time candidates registered to write the examination.

Presenting the results on Thursday, Ms Motshekga said the class of 2021 was the ‘most impacted’ by the COVID-19 pandemic as it endured two years of restrictions and disruptions.

These include differentiated timetables, a trimmed curriculum, and additional after-school interventions to keep learners safe during the pandemic. Together, these issues contributed to a ‘hostile’ learning environment, she said.