Stagnating matric maths pass rate a sobering reality

The decline in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) matric maths pass rate is not the result of a sudden collapse in teaching quality, but the outcome of longstanding weaknesses in the schooling system that begin in the early grades, say education experts.

- Nkateko Joseph Mabasa

Concerned: As top students celebrated their matric results this week, Basic Education Minister Sivive Gwarube, below, highlighted structural challenges facing the system. Photo: Department of Basic Education

(Department of Basic Education)

In 2025, the maths pass rate declined from 69% to 64%. The number of distinctions attained for the subject followed a similar pattern, falling sharply from 9 752 in 2024 to 4 897 in 2025.

This comes against the backdrop of low matric maths participation. Of the 901 790 matric candidates, only 34% took up maths, while most opted for mathematics literacy.

"A stagnating pass rate points to several systemic pressures relating to learning gaps accumulated over time, particularly from earlier grades, which matric interventions alone cannot fix," said Kat Yassim, the head of the education, leadership and management department at the University of Johannesburg.

Teacher shortages and uneven subject expertise, especially in gateway subjects such as maths, had contributed to lower learner performance, said Yassim.

Curriculum and assessment misalignment, where learners coped with rote learning but struggled with application and higher-order thinking, coupled with load-shedding, food insecurity and mental health challenges, directly affected learning, she added.

"This reinforces the need to shift focus earlier in the system, especially in the Foundation and Intermediate Phases, rather than relying on last-minute matric rescue strategies," said Yassim.

Accounting also declined from 81% to 78% - while physical science increased marginally from 76% to 77%. However, physical science distinctions dropped from 5 680 to 3 865. Fewer distinctions were also recorded for accounting.