Nearly half of the 2024 matric class has achieved bachelor passes, with 47.8% of students reaching this milestone, according to the Minister of Basic Education’s announcement. This marks a significant improvement from last year’s bachelor pass rate of 40.9%. The achievement highlights continued progress in South Africa’s education system, especially in terms of access to higher education.
KwaZulu-Natal led the provinces with the highest number of bachelor passes, recording 84,470. Gauteng followed closely with 66,979 bachelor passes, and the Eastern Cape secured 45,662. Minister Gwarube noted that the number of bachelor passes has more than doubled in the past decade—from 150,752 in 2014 to 337,158 in 2024—showing strong progress in educational outcomes.
In an encouraging development, around 67% of bachelor passes in 2024 came from non-fee-paying schools in underprivileged communities. This marks an increase from last year, demonstrating that more students from disadvantaged backgrounds are qualifying for university entrance. “This means that poorer communities are producing more candidates who can go on to become doctors, engineers, accountants, and scientists,” Gwarube said.
The Class of 2024 also achieved an impressive 319,651 distinctions, a rise of over 65,000 compared to the previous year. Key subjects, including Mathematics, saw increased distinction rates across all provinces. KwaZulu-Natal topped the list with 10.8% distinction potential, followed by the Western Cape at 6.3% and Gauteng at 5.3%.
Students can now access their results through their schools, the Department of Basic Education website, or via SMS by texting their ID number and exam number to 35658 for a small fee. National newspapers have also published the results, making it easy for learners to check their performance.
