According to the Department of Basic Education (DBE), a record 920 634 learners wrote Matric examinations in 2026, the biggest number of candidates to sit for public exams to date. The national pass rate for the 2026 Matric class stood at 80.1%, up from the 2025 pass rate of 76.4%. The good news is that all provinces had an overall pass rate of more than 70%, a significant improvement from the previous records. This article analyses the performance of different provinces and schools in the 2026 matric exams.
Which Province Has the Best Matric Results?
Free State Province obtained the best Matric results in the 2026 exams. It achieved an 88.5% overall pass rate, an improvement of 2.8% from the 2026 academic year. Four districts in the province with the highest results were also in the top 10 performing districts nationally. The most remarkable aspect of the province’s outstanding matric results is that even township schools achieved exceptional passes.
Which Province Is the Lowest in Matric Results?
Although Limpopo is the lowest in Matric results, the pass rate is fairly good. It achieved a pass rate of 72.1% in the 2026 exams, and this was a marked improvement compared to the 66.7% pass rate achieved in the 2026 exams. The province improved by 5.4%, so its performance is encouraging, although it was in the last position in the country’s nine provinces.
Which School Has the Highest Matric Pass Rate?
Students at public schools in South Africa write the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exam that follows the CAPS curriculum, whereas private institutions offer the Independent Examinations Board (IEB). Eunice Senior Secondary School in Free State Province has the highest matric pass rate in the 2026 NSC examinations.
Eunice School is one of the oldest learning institutions in South Africa. It was established in 1875, and it turned 148 years in 2026. For the past 36 years, the school has enjoyed a 100% pass rate and an outstanding Bachelor’s pass rate of around 99%. In 2015, Eunice received the National Education Excellence Award for the best-performing public school. It has also emerged as the top-performing school with the highest matric pass rate in the 2026 exams.
The school offers a multiracial learning environment, which has significantly contributed to its academic excellence over the years. It fosters the development of critical skills such as problem-solving, managing complexity, decision-making, and others. Fluency in English is another factor that has contributed to the school’s attainment of colourful passes in public exams.
On the other hand, institutions that offered IEB matric exams in 2026 also recorded exceptional results. It is generally believed that independent schools offer superior education because they enjoy benefits such as more funding than public schools and smaller classes. As a result, highly qualified teachers are capable of paying more attention to learners.
The IEB pass rate in 2026 was 98.42%, a slight increase from 98.39% achieved in the 2026 academic year. St John’s College has the highest matric results in this sector. It achieved a 100% pass rate and a 100% Bachelor’s pass. Each candidate had an average of 3.1 distinctions making its performance outstanding.
Which Province Has the Best Education in South Africa?
Free State Province is the best in terms of academic performance based on the pass rate per province in the last five years. However, several factors come into play when determining the province with the best education in South Africa. Therefore, there is no universal answer since each province has its weaknesses and strengths.
Some provinces are believed to be better than others based on the following factors. Western Cape is considered the best because it has a higher percentage of learning institutions that are classified as excellent in terms of learning facilities. The province also boasts the highest school attendance rate compared to other South African provinces. The students in Western Cape schools generally outperform those from other regions in national examinations.
Gauteng Province is the leader in terms of quality and standard of education. The province has the highest number of independent schools in South Africa, which means that private schools enjoy the lowest teacher-student ratio. Learners from these institutions also enjoy a wide range of excellent learning options. Kwazulu Natal Province also offers distinct learning features that make it one of the best in South Africa. The province is home to public and private schools that offer excellent learning facilities. Students at these institutions also have great exposure to various educational options.
The top four provinces with the best education in South Africa include Free State, Western Cape, Gauteng, and KZN. Depending on your expectations, the best province for education is the one that meets your child’s needs. As you can see, each province has its strengths and weaknesses, affecting the learners’ academic performance. Therefore, your ultimate decision is a matter of personal preference since there is no one-size-fits-all approach to choosing schools in different provinces.
The matric pass rate in South Africa’s nine provinces is above 70%, a testimony that the education sector is improving. Both private and independent schools have produced remarkable achievements in national examinations in the past few years. If you’re looking for the best school for your child, there are several factors you should consider depending on your expectations.
