Stats show more learners in WC completing matric

THE Western Cape has achieved the highest retention rate in the country, meaning more learners are staying in school and completing matric.

- GENEVIEVE SERRA

According to the data shared by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), the retention rate from Grade 10 in 2023 stood at 94234 learners, and 70.0% of them wrote their NSC exams in 2025.

The national retention number was 62.8%, meaning more than 60% of Grade 10 learners from the class of 2023 wrote their matric exams last year.

Bronagh Hammond, Director of Communications for the WCED, explained that several factors could lead to a learner leaving the school system.

“The Western Cape Education Department cannot provide credible analysis for the dropout rate as some learners ‘drop out’ of the system due to pregnancy,” she said.