The Independent Examinations Board (IEB) has announced a 2020 NSC pass rate of 98.07%, which is slightly lower than the previous year’s pass rate of 98.82%.
All candidates who passed achieved a pass that is good enough to enter the tertiary study at one of the three levels:
- 88.42% (compared to 89.51% in 2019) of the cohort achieved entry to degree study
- 8.14% (compared to 7.91% in 2019) qualified for entry to diploma study
- 1.51% (compared to 1.4% in 2019) achieved entry for study at the Higher Certificate level.
In the video below SABC News discusses the IEB 2019 matric pass rate
There were 12 024 full-time and 1 139 part-time candidates from 233 examination centres writing in 261 venues across Southern Africa who wrote the IEB National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations in October and November 2020.
The IEB says that this is an increase from 2019 when there were 11 818 full-time candidates and 779 part-time candidates.
While it is not immediately clear in the numbers, the impact of COVID-19 on the schooling population saw several learners withdraw from the year and postpone completion of Grade 12 until 2021.
“It is interesting to note that the hard lockdown had differing impacts across schools within the IEB. Some schools were able to make a smooth transition to online teaching and learning as they had the resources available and in fact, had already been using them in the normal course of events. Their teachers were experienced in this mode of delivery, as were their learners who had access to devices and stable internet connectivity,” explains Anne Oberholzer, CEO of the Independent Examinations Board.
“However, many schools could not deploy an online teaching model, either because the school or the majority of learners did not have adequate resources. To fulfil their commitment to teach their learners and not be defeated by the pandemic, teachers in these situations reverted to traditional distance education strategies. In some cases, they prepared weekly learning programmes for learners using textbook references and notes together with prepared exercises and tasks. These were emailed to learners where possible, physically delivered to or collected by learners and family members from the school. The completed tasks were returned to the school for marking and possible further teaching intervention if required. The initiative of schools and teachers to continue with teaching and learning during this time is a testimony to their professionalism and the commitment of teachers and learners, as well as the support of parents to pivot and adapt to our changed circumstances,” adds Oberholzer.
Issues affecting exams
Some schools also saw a number of learners leaving to join distance and online education providers, and there was also an increase in the number of children being home-schooled.
As the examination period grew closer, a number of learners opted to only write a few subjects in the 2020 year, postponing the examinations in the other subjects to 2021.
The closing date for the application for remarking is 3 March 2021 and the results from remarking will be released on 26 March 2021.
The closing date for learners who qualify to enrol for the supplementary examination is 16 April 2021.
Embargo on NSC publication of results:
SABC Education in partnership with the Department of Basic Education launched its Matric Results service on the 31st of December 2020 and will run until 28 February 2021.
The SABC Education Matric Results service will release the results to all students across all provinces who have registered using the SMS or USSD on 23 February 2021.
Learners are encouraged to pre-register using the SABC Education Matric Results service.
The 2020 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results will be released at the different schools at 08:00 on Tuesday, 23 February 2021. These results will be made available to the media houses and Service Providers on Monday, 22 February 2021, at 07:00.
The publication of results will be embargoed until 06:00 on Tuesday, 23 February 2021 for all PEDs results, except in the Western Cape.
The SABC Education Matric Results service will release the results to all students across all provinces who have registered using the SMS or USSD on 23 February 2021.
Learners are encouraged to pre-register using the SABC Education Matric Results service.
Below are guidelines of how learners can register to receive their 2020 Matric Results:
by SMS
• SMS your exam number to 45856
• The system verifies the exam number; your exam number must be correct in order to be accepted.
• Learners will be charged R1-50 per SMS, free SMS’s do not apply
by USSD
• Dial *120*45856# enter exam number to register
• You will be charged R1-50 per minute
• Results will be sent to your phone once they are available
by MATRICSMATE APP
• Download for free from Google Play and Apple App Stores
