Department of Basic Education director-general Mathanzima Mweli and provincial education MECs have welcomed the 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass rate of 82.9%, which is up from 80.1% in 2022.

Mweli told News24 that the pass rate was "extraordinary" and said "the good thing about the results is that the rural provinces have really worked extremely hard".

"The real challenge is to maintain this performance. The gap is closing between the affluent and the poor communities and that is worth celebrating."

He said, however, that he was extremely concerned about a few schools he suspected might be involved in "gatekeeping" because of a big drop in pupil numbers between grades 10 and 11.

Gatekeeping is a practice used by some schools to retain weaker pupils in the same grade for a second year so that the schools' matric results don't decline.

There was a total of 1 081 618 pupils in Grade 10 in 2021 and this dropped to 928 050 in Grade 11 in 2022.

"Our researchers are going to investigate and give us more facts around that."

KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Mbali Frazer said their provincial improvement plan had contributed to improved results.

The province achieved an 86.4% pass and was second after the Free State, which was declared the top-performing province in the country after achieving an 89% pass rate.

Frazer said holding accountability sessions with schools that achieved a pass percentage of less than 40% also assisted as "schools were called to account".

"It was not for fault-finding, but to assist where they lacked. I think that one assisted us. There was also the involvement of parents."

She said she was very happy with the number of Bachelor's passes as well as the maths passes.

Limpopo Education MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya said she was excited that her province recorded a 79.5% pass rate.

She attributed it to extra teaching provided to pupils and support by curriculum advisers to schools.

"There was also an exchange of great teachers. This year we are going to excel in our support to educators," Lerule-Ramakhanya said.

She said fewer than 20 circuits were performing below 70%.

Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier was delighted that the country's top pupil in public schools, Melissa Müller, came from Rhenish Girls' High School in Stellenbosch.

Besides being declared the top pupil in public schools, she was also the top maths pupil and the top pupil in Quintile 5 schools.

"All credit goes to Melissa and her teachers, school and her parents. I think she symbolises our focus on trying to achieve quality education for every learner in every classroom in every school in the Western Cape," Maynier said.

He did not focus much on the province placing fifth in the country with an 81.5% pass rate, instead commenting on the Western Cape's 69.3% pupil retention rate.

"At the end of the day, I'm not paying all that much attention to the league tables. I think we got to look at the pass rate and we increased ours."

Meanwhile, Müller told News24 that she was going to be studying mechatronics engineering at the University of Stellenbosch.

"I have received a conditional offer pending my final results."

The 18-year-old joked that she was going to move out of her parents' home to live in a university residence saying: "I love them very much, but I do think it's time to move out."

"I am extremely proud of my results. It's about having a good work ethic and discipline, and it's not about starting in January of your matric year. It's about learning how to answer the questions and what methods work for you," she added.

Her message to the class of 2024 was to enjoy matric.

"You are going to feel overwhelmed at times. If you have a solid support system – your family, your friends at school – I think they will help you through the year."

Müller, who also played first-team hockey and water polo, said: "I thrive under pressure."

Johannesburg West in Gauteng was declared the best-performing district in the country after recording a 92.5% pass, followed by Motheo in Free State (91.2%) and Tshwane South in Gauteng (90.4%).

A total of 282 894 candidates achieved a Bachelor's pass, representing 40.9% of the total number of candidates who wrote the 2023 NSC exams.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said the percentage of Bachelor's passes in 2023 was the highest ever produced in the history of the NSC.