Western Cape MEC for Education, David Maynier, has praised Silikamva High School for achieving a remarkable 100% matric pass rate this year - a significant improvement from its past performance, which saw a matric pass rate of only 40.4% in 2019.
Yesterday, the province celebrated the release of the individual results for the Class of 2025 at Silikamva in Hout Bay, highlighting the school’s exceptional achievements this year.
According to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), Silikamva is a Quintile 3 no-fee school that was established in 2013.
Given its history of challenges, this year’s results mark a notable turnaround for the school.
To improve the school’s culture, the management team decided to invest in collaboration with their partner, Common Good.
Common Good is a development organisation driving grassroots transformation in South Africa through partnerships with churches, non-government organisations (NGO), and government.
“Their decision to focus on continuous improvement, personal growth, discipline, motivating learners and staff, and building relationships with parents and the surrounding community has paid off.
“For the first time since the school was founded, the matric Class of 2025 achieved a matric pass rate of 100%,” the statement read.
In addition, the school achieved an impressive Bachelor’s pass rate of 76%, which the provincial department views as a clear indicator of its commitment to the quality of matriculation passes.
This focus opens up greater opportunities for their graduating learners.
The candidates from the school earned 75 subject distinctions, and they achieved a remarkable 100% pass rate in eight subjects, including Physical Science.
Principal Siphathisiwe Nkahla-Nkohla said the school’s results reflect the strong academic culture they have developed.
“The use of data to improve results, the commitment of our educators and the support of parents and our school operating partner, Common Good.
“We are proud of what has been achieved, and we look forward to our matriculating learners using this solid foundation to access further education, meaningful opportunities, and to become responsible, contributing citizens in the future,” Nkahla-Nkohla said.
District results
The department has reported that two districts in the province achieved pass rates exceeding 90% in 2025.
The Overberg Education District leads with an impressive 92.4% pass rate, making it the third-highest district pass rate in the country, along with a Bachelor’s pass rate of 49.5%.
Following closely, the Metro East Education District secured the second spot, boasting a commendable matric pass rate of 90.2% and a Bachelor’s pass rate of 50.2%.
Additionally, all six remaining districts recorded pass rates above 80% this year.
“Across districts, the number of underperforming public ordinary schools with pass rates of 60% or below has declined even further this year, from five schools in 2024 to just two in 2025. We will support these schools over the coming year to ensure that their pass rates improve.”
Quintile results
The department reported that the province is experiencing improvements across no-fee school quintiles, with all quintiles increasing their pass rates and achieving a pass rate above 80%.
Quintile 1 achieved a matric pass rate of 82.0% and a Bachelor’s pass rate of 36.1%.
Quintile 2 schools also saw an increase this year, reaching a matric pass rate of 85.5% and a Bachelor’s pass rate of 38.2%.
Quintile 3 schools recorded a rise in their performance, achieving a matric pass rate of 84.3% and a Bachelor’s pass rate of 38.9%.
The matric pass rates for Quintile 2 and Quintile 3 schools have surpassed the pass rate for Quintile 4, which stands at 83.7%.
“More importantly, the Bachelor’s pass rates for Quintiles 1, 2 and 3 all exceed that of Quintile 4 at 34.4%, demonstrating that our no-fee schools are rapidly catching up in terms of quality of matric passes.”
Re-marks, re-checks, and June exams
The provincial department is encouraging all learners who did not pass their exams not to give up and to continue doing their best to complete Grade 12.
They can apply for a re-mark or re-check if they do not feel their results reflect their performance or write the exams in June.
More information on these options is available on the WCED website: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/education/national-senior-certificate-nsc-exams.
Counselling support is available for matriculants who are disappointed with their results.
They can approach their school, which will connect them with the relevant officials in the district offices. Alternatively, they can call the Safe Schools Hotline at 0800 45 46 47 for assistance.
Candidates can collect their results from their schools and on the WCED website from 10 am on 13 January 2026: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/education/exams. – SAnews.gov.za
