The top matrics of the Western Cape Class of 2023 were honoured at a ceremony at the official Premier’s residence, Leeuwenhof, on Tuesday.

The top candidate in the country once again hails from the Western Cape. Melissa Müller from Rhenish Girls’ High School not only ranked as the top public school candidate in the country, she is also the top Quintile 5 candidate, and the top Mathematics candidate, in the country:

The top candidate in the country has come from the Western Cape in 6 of the past 7 matric exams, and the top candidate in Mathematics has been from the Western Cape for 5 matric exams in a row.

Five other Western Cape learners were also recognised at the national results function:

• Ethan Myers from Herzlia High School is the top independent school candidate;
• Jared Benn from Wynberg Boys’ High School ranked second in quintile 5, and is the top candidate in Physical Sciences;
• Samkelo Gumada from Athlone School for the Blind is the top special needs candidate;
• Victor Mapolisa, also from Athlone School for the Blind, ranked third in special needs education candidates; and
• Amahle Jemane from De La Bat School ranked second in South African Sign Language.

MEC David Maynier has congratulated all the top achievers for their astounding achievements, and for representing the province at the national awards earlier this month.

Despite a tough year, which included the minibus taxi blockades and strikes, two major floods, and severe load shedding, the province increased the matric pass rate for the third year running, to 81.54%.

In addition, all candidates who passed (50 520) candidates who passed, met the requirements to access higher education, with 26 182 candidates (or 42.2%) qualifying with a bachelors pass to attend university, which is the highest number of bachelors passes in the province ever.

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The province also increased its retention rate to 69.3%. This is the percentage of the Grade 10 class from two years’ ago who wrote their matric exams this year.

Maynier says while there are huge challenges to improve education in the province, not least of all the massive budget constraints, the Western Cape Government will not stop fighting to get the budget it needs in order to deliver on the vision of quality education.