Independent Examination Board (IEB) matric candidates have achieved a pass rate of 98.42% with 89.32% obtaining a bachelor’s degree.
The 2022 pass rate is slightly higher than 2021, which is 98.39%.
The chief executive of the IEB, Anne Oberholzer, praised the performance of the class of 2022, which showed that the students were the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, which started when they were in the 10th grade.
“They have to work hard to maintain their drive and perseverance to succeed and in many aspects, dig deep to make up for lost time and experience,” he said.
“Various strategies have been used to try and reduce this – online teaching, pen and paper distance education, catch-up programmes, weekend school lessons and so on – some more successful than others.”
Some schools recorded strong performances, with many reporting scores.
St John’s College in Johannesburg achieved a 100% pass rate, with six students – Matthew Pryce, Sebastian Boulliart, Khelan Desai, Rahil Gosai, James Hind and Thomas Kruger – included in the IEB Outstanding Achievement list. He placed in the top 5% of candidates in six or more subjects, including life orientation.
Redhill School, also in Johannesburg, also came out on top, with 60% of the class receiving distinctions in mathematics.
“Our DUX Scholar is Charlotte Snyckers – an average of 93% with eight distinctions, of which seven distinctions are over 90%,” Redhill said in a statement.
St Mary’s Girls’ School in Johannesburg came in with a total of 376 merits, with 41 students achieving merits in mathematics and 95% of the class achieving an average of 60% or higher.
Headteacher Deanne King said: “This is a fantastic achievement. We are proud of this group of students, many of whom have been with us from the beginning of their school careers.
“I thank the teaching and co-curricular staff for their investment in each of the girls and their unwavering dedication to ensuring every girl in the class reaches their full potential.”
Somerset College, near Stellenbosch, said that in all academic departments, the average was higher than the national average.
“Our students achieved an average of more than 10% higher than the national IEB average in 12 subjects, including accounting, Afrikaans FAL. [first additional language]geography, SAL Germany [second additional language]history, information technology, life sciences, mathematics, further study mathematics, mathematical literacy, physical science and visual arts.
Graham Sayer, chief executive of Somerset College, said: “To the group of matric year 2022: now you have added to this achievement as a distinction because it produced the best matric results in the 25-year history of Somerset College, in the 25th year. . Please accept our warmest congratulations. We are very proud of you and we wish you a happy and fulfilling future.
Oberholzer said: “The IEB congratulates the candidates, their teachers and their parents for a job well done.”