The 2016 matric pass rate, including the results of progressed learners, increased to 72.5% - up from last year’s rate of 70.7%. Progressed learners are those who failed Grade 11 for two consecutive years and were then automatically promoted to matric. Motshekga said the progressed learner programme, and providing academic support for these pupils, had been a key focus area in 2015. As a result, she said 2016 saw the largest number of progressed learners since the promulgation of the policy. The Free State was the country's top performing province with an 88,2% pass rate. This was six percentage points higher than 2015. North West came in third with a pass rate of 82,5%, followed by the Northern Cape with 78,7%. The national matric pass rate was 72.5%. This was a slight increase over last year's rate of 70.7%.

The choir of the department of basic education in North West at the media briefing in Taung.