Matric Results 2024: Celebrations and controversies in SA’s education system
AS the deadline for remarking approaches, students across South Africa must act swiftly if they wish to challenge their 2024 matric results. This option, while invaluable, underscores the significance of ensuring fairness and accuracy in one of the most critical academic milestones.
Full-time and part-time candidates are eligible for the re-marking process, which costs R120 for a re-mark, R30 for a re-check, and R230 for script watching. These initiatives demonstrate the Department of Basic Education's (DBE) dedication to correcting potential problems while retaining the accuracy of the results.
For many students, the stakes are incredibly high. A successful remark can unlock opportunities for tertiary education or scholarships, but candidates must also navigate the risks associated with the process.
However, a lower grade following a re-evaluation is a real possibility, and the financial burden, while modest, can be prohibitive for some families. However, as Minister Siviwe Gwarube emphasised: “The re-marking process is one of our key mechanisms to uphold the fairness of our system and give every learner a fair shot.”
Why remark?
For students dissatisfied with their results, the remarking process offers a critical opportunity to ensure fairness. This process, however, is not without risks. As noted earlier, a remark could result in a lower grade if errors in marking were favourable to the student. Additionally, the R120 fee, while seemingly modest, can pose a barrier for economically disadvantaged students.
The DBE has stressed the significance of transparency throughout the process. “We encourage all learners to take this step if they believe their results are inaccurate,” the department wrote on its social media pages. However, the delay for re-mark results, which will not be available until March 7, adds to students’ worry over securing places in universities or other institutions.
Caution advised on comparison with previous years
The matric class of 2024’s record-breaking pass percentage of 87.3% is a source of national pride; however, education experts have warned against making facile comparisons to past years. Over the last five years, matric pass rates have steadily increased, with 2023 posting an 82.9% pass rate and 2022 at 80.1%.
While these advances are welcome, attributing them exclusively to better teaching and learning approaches ignores the complex factors that affect each cohort.
The matric class of 2024 experienced unique obstacles, having started Grade 8 in 2020 during Covid-19 upheavals. The pandemic resulted in protracted school closures, uneven access to remote learning, and the loss of foundational classroom time.
This background distinguishes them from previous cohorts, who did not face such systemic disruptions. Minister Gwarube shared these thoughts, saying: “The Class of 2024 reflects resilience, having started Grade 8 in 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
At the same time, the national attention on school performance during the epidemic may have resulted in more rigorous interventions, such as the Second Chance Matric Programme and expanded teacher training activities. These factors most definitely contributed to the improved results, although they confound direct comparisons to past years.
Structural challenges and unequal outcomes
While the DBE has celebrated the fact that 67% of Bachelor passes in 2024 came from Quintile 1 to 3 schools, these successes do not erase entrenched inequalities in the system. Learners from wealthier Quintile 4 and 5 schools continue to benefit from better-resourced environments, smaller class sizes, and superior access to technology.
Similarly, provincial disparities highlight a broader systemic challenge. KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng remain the frontrunners in terms of distinctions and Bachelor passes, with the former achieving 84 470 Bachelor passes. Conversely, rural provinces, such as Mpumalanga and Limpopo, despite modest advances, continue to lag behind their urban counterparts.
This inequity was evident in subject-specific outcomes as well. The pass rate for mathematics improved significantly to 69.1%, up from 63.5% in 2023, reflecting progress in this critical subject. However, the pass rate for physical sciences declined slightly to 75.6%, raising questions about the consistency of support for these key fields. As one education analyst noted: “If we’re serious about producing the engineers and scientists of tomorrow, we need a consistent and systemic approach to bolstering math and science.”
Celebration and controversy
The 2024 matric results are also mired in controversies that cast a shadow over the celebrations. One of the most notable is the alleged leak of results by a company called Edumarks, which reportedly sold access to students’ results before the official release date. This breach of procedure has generated major questions about the process’s integrity as well as potential privacy infractions under the Protection of Personal Information (Popi) Act.
Minister Gwarube confirmed that investigations were underway and assured the public that “no stone will be left unturned” in safeguarding the integrity of the results.
Another contentious issue is the debate over publishing matric results in newspapers. While the Information Regulator sought to prevent this practice due to privacy concerns, the courts ruled in favour of the DBE, allowing publication. This outcome reflects broader tensions between tradition, public access, and evolving privacy standards in the digital age.
A call for sustained effort
While the matric class of 2024 has set a new standard with their record-breaking achievements, it also serves as a reminder of the work that has to be done. The increasing number of Bachelor passes and distinctions demonstrates progress, but systemic challenges such as unequal access to resources, discrepancies in subject performance, and concerns about test integrity remain important.
The DBE, schools, and stakeholders need to sustain and expand interventions such as the Second Chance Matric Programme, which provides an essential safety net for learners looking to improve their results.
Education activist Hendrick Makaneta summarised this well: “The 2024 matric results are a victory, but they must not lull us into complacency. We must double down on efforts to make quality education a reality for all South Africans.”
As students and parents take the subsequent steps—whether applying for remarking, enrolling in rewriting programs, or planning for higher education—the emphasis must remain on creating a more equal and resilient educational system. The Class of 2024’s achievements are cause for celebration, but they also serve as a call to action to solve the systemic issues that continue to hold too many students back.
sizwe.dlamini@inl.co.za