By Lebone Rodah Mosima
The country’s best-performing and most-improved education districts and schools will be recognised at the 12th National Education Excellence Awards in Sandton on Friday, the Department of Basic Education said.
The awards, held under the theme “Strong Foundations, Strong Futures”, will recognise performance in the 2025 National Senior Certificate examinations, improvements in learning outcomes, district leadership and the maintenance of school facilities.
The event will be held at the NH Hotel Johannesburg in Sandton from 08:30 in partnership with Canva.
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“Education Districts are the glue that holds the entire basic education ecosystem together,” the department said, adding that districts work with provincial education departments to improve the functioning of schools across the country.
Candidates are drawn from districts in all nine provinces.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule and Director-General Mathanzima Mweli are expected to present the awards alongside the department’s partners. The event will conclude with the presentation of a Special Ministerial Award.
District awards will include separate categories for the top-performing district serving up to 400 schools and the top-performing district serving more than 400 schools, based on their overall pass rates in the 2025 NSC examinations.
Other district categories will recognise the most improved district, the district that produced the highest number of bachelor passes and districts that recorded the strongest balance between participation and achievement in Accounting, Mathematics and Physical Science.
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Awards will also be presented for excellence in district leadership and management and for support provided to improve learning outcomes in primary schools.
School categories include the top-performing public ordinary school in each of the five school quintiles, based on Quality Performance Indicators applied to the 2025 NSC results.
The department will also recognise the top-performing full-service school and primary and secondary schools that have demonstrated excellence in the upkeep and maintenance of their facilities.
