By Charmaine Ndlela
The Department of Basic Education has presented special ministerial recognition for the collective achievement of all 75 education districts after each recorded a National Senior Certificate pass rate above 80% in the 2025 examinations.
The recognition was announced during the 12th National Education Excellence Awards held in Johannesburg on Friday. The department also unveiled a partnership with Canva for Education that will give teachers and learners free access to the platform’s educational tools.
Canva Africa Lead Bianca Sibiya said the partnership would provide educators with digital resources, practical training and continued support.
The 2025 result was the first time in South Africa’s democratic history that all 75 education districts had simultaneously achieved an NSC pass rate above 80%.
The ceremony celebrated excellence across the basic education sector, recognising outstanding districts, schools and education leaders for academic performance, improvement, innovation and effective school support.
Among the evening’s highlights was the announcement of the top-performing districts based on the percentage of bachelor passes achieved in the 2025 NSC examinations.
Johannesburg West Education District claimed first place, followed by Umlazi Education District in second place and Tshwane South Education District in third.
Sarah Baartman Education District was named the country’s most improved district, ahead of John Taolo Gaetsewe Education District and Bohlabela Education District.
Outstanding public secondary schools were also recognised across all quintiles to ensure fair comparison between schools operating with different levels of resources.
In Quintile 1, Magotshwa Secondary School secured first place, followed by Highveld Secondary School and Macingwane Secondary School.
Mshadza Secondary School topped the Quintile 2 category, with Moreko Secondary School finishing second and Xolilizwe Secondary School taking third place.
The Centre of Science and Technology claimed top honours in Quintile 3, ahead of Dendron Secondary School and Soqhayisa Senior Secondary School.
Menzi High School led the Quintile 4 category, followed by Potchefstroom Gimnasium and Hoërskool Middelburg.
In Quintile 5, Anton Lembede MST Academy was named the top-performing school, with Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof and Westerford High School taking second and third places respectively.
The awards also recognised schools that excelled in inclusion, learner support and the maintenance of school facilities.
Dannhauser Primary Full-Service School was named the country’s leading full-service school, followed by Trio Primary Full-Service School and Mandela Park Full-Service School.
In the primary school facilities category, Jonguhlanga Primary School received top honours, with Floradene Primary School and Thandanani Primary School also recognised for maintaining high-quality learning environments.
Mvenyane Secondary School won the secondary school facilities category, ahead of !Xunkhwesa Combined School and Vredendal Secondary School.
Metro Central Education District was recognised for excellence in district support for primary learning outcomes. It was followed by uMgungundlovu Education District and the Free State’s Mangaung Metro Education District.
The awards acknowledged districts that had implemented effective strategies to strengthen Grade R practices and improve reading outcomes from Grade R to Grade 6.
Closing the ceremony, Director-General Mathanzima Mweli challenged the top-performing district to build on its achievement by striving for an NSC pass rate of 90% or higher.
“True excellence is measured not by surpassing others, but by continually surpassing yesterday’s achievements,” he said.
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