Silikamva High School in Hout Bay has achieved an outstanding 100% matric pass rate for the Class of 2025, marking a remarkable improvement from its 40.4% pass rate in 2019.
Western Cape MEC for Education, David Maynier, praised the school’s achievement during the release of individual matric results at the school yesterday, highlighting the significant progress made over the past few years.
According to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), Silikamva High School is a Quintile 3 no-fee school established in 2013. Given its early challenges, the 2025 matric results represent a major turnaround for the school.
To strengthen the school’s culture and performance, the management team partnered with Common Good, a development organisation that drives grassroots transformation in South Africa through partnerships with churches, non-government organisations and government.
“Their decision to focus on continuous improvement, personal growth, discipline, motivating learners and staff, and building relationships with parents and the surrounding community has paid off.
“For the first time since the school was founded, the matric Class of 2025 achieved a matric pass rate of 100%,” the statement read.
In addition to the perfect overall pass rate, the school achieved a strong Bachelor’s pass rate of 76%, which the provincial department says reflects the quality of the passes achieved and opens up greater access to higher education opportunities.
Learners from Silikamva High School also earned 75 subject distinctions and achieved a 100% pass rate in eight subjects, including Physical Science.
Principal Siphathisiwe Nkahla-Nkohla said the results reflect the school’s strong academic culture.
“The use of data to improve results, the commitment of our educators and the support of parents and our school operating partner, Common Good.
“We are proud of what has been achieved, and we look forward to our matriculating learners using this solid foundation to access further education, meaningful opportunities, and to become responsible, contributing citizens in the future,” Nkahla-Nkohla said.
Western Cape district matric results
The WCED reported that two education districts achieved pass rates above 90% in 2025.
The Overberg Education District recorded the highest pass rate in the province at 92.4%, making it the third-highest performing district nationally. The district also achieved a Bachelor’s pass rate of 49.5%.
The Metro East Education District followed closely with a 90.2% matric pass rate and a 50.2% Bachelor’s pass rate.
All six remaining districts in the Western Cape achieved pass rates above 80% this year.
“Across districts, the number of underperforming public ordinary schools with pass rates of 60% or below has declined even further this year, from five schools in 2024 to just two in 2025. We will support these schools over the coming year to ensure that their pass rates improve.”
Improved results across no-fee school quintiles
The department also reported improvements across all no-fee school quintiles, with every quintile achieving a matric pass rate above 80%.
Quintile 1 schools achieved a pass rate of 82.0% and a Bachelor’s pass rate of 36.1%.
Quintile 2 schools improved to a 85.5% pass rate and a 38.2% Bachelor’s pass rate.
Quintile 3 schools recorded a 84.3% pass rate and a 38.9% Bachelor’s pass rate.
The matric pass rates for Quintile 2 and Quintile 3 schools surpassed that of Quintile 4, which stood at 83.7%.
“More importantly, the Bachelor’s pass rates for Quintiles 1, 2 and 3 all exceed that of Quintile 4 at 34.4%, demonstrating that our no-fee schools are rapidly catching up in terms of quality of matric passes.”
Re-marks, re-checks and June exam options
The WCED has encouraged learners who did not pass their matric exams not to give up and to continue working towards completing Grade 12.
Learners may apply for a re-mark or re-check if they believe their results do not reflect their performance, or they may choose to rewrite their exams in June.
Further information on these options is available on the WCED website.
Counselling support is also available for matriculants who are disappointed with their results. Learners can approach their schools for assistance or contact the Safe Schools Hotline on 0800 45 46 47.
Matric candidates can collect their results from their schools and view them on the WCED website from 10am on 13 January 2026.
Additional reporting from SANews.
