Decline in IEB Matric Pass Rate Raises Concerns Amid Examination Leak Scandal

The Independent Examination Board (IEB) has reported a decline in its matric pass rate for the 2025 class, with a final rate of 98.31%. This marks a slight drop from the 98.47% recorded in 2024, drawing attention to the performance of private schools across the nation, which primarily rely on IEB services.

Although the overall pass rate has decreased, the bachelor’s pass rate for the class of 2025 is recorded at 89.12%, down from 89.37% in the previous year. There has also been a small increase in the percentage of candidates qualifying for diploma studies, with figures shifting from 7.56% to 7.83%.

A total of 17,143 pupils participated in the IEB exams this year—comprised of both full-time and part-time candidates—compared to 16,304 in 2024. In contrast, the NSC exams administered by the government had over 900,000 students taking part, highlighting a significant gap between the two examination authority systems.

Confidence Dikgole, CEO of IEB, downplayed the decline, stating that fluctuations in pass rates should not be a cause for alarm. “As the IEB continues to grow, small fluctuations in the aggregate pass rate are statistically expected and internationally observed in stable assessment systems,” he said.

Compounding the IEB's challenges, the 2025 matric year has faced scrutiny with reports of an examination leak. Forty pupils reportedly had access to leaked papers affecting the English, Maths, and Physical Science exams. This breach of security has led to two Department of Basic Education (DBE) officials being identified as the source of the leak and suspended pending investigation. Notably, one official had a child sitting for the matric exams, raising questions about conflicts of interest.

The leak has sparked a broader discussion about the government's ability to manage examinations effectively. Dr Wynand Boshoff of the VF Plus stated that the DBE must be held accountable, noting that independent authorities like the IEB and the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI) have consistently managed their examinations without fraud or controversy. “When cheating in exams comes to light, the department’s usual defence is the enormous scale of the examinations it oversees,” he remarked.

Boshoff further highlighted the unique nature of this year's breach, saying, “What makes this year’s breach different is that it reportedly took place at headquarters, not at some remote examination centre where ensuring control is difficult.” He predicted that if the DBE continues to possess a monopoly over managing final examinations, parents may increasingly turn to independent education options.

In response to the leak, the DBE claimed that it demonstrated the robustness of its quality assurance and monitoring systems, as the irregularity was swiftly identified by markers. The department also pointed out that the 40 students affected represent a microscopic percentage of the approximately one million total matriculants in 2025.

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube is scheduled to announce the overall results on 12 January 2026, with individual results available from 13 January. While this year's figures reflect a decline in the private school pass rate, there is optimism that Gwarube will reveal improvements in 2024’s government pass rate, which stood at 87.3%.

As scrutiny continues on both the IEB and the DBE, the educational landscape in South Africa faces pressing questions about the future of examination integrity and student performance across public and private school systems.

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