Solidariteit Helpende Hand has congratulated the matric class of 2025 on their performance in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination, with a national pass rate of 88%.
The organisation also congratulates learners who completed the National Senior Certificate (NSC) through the Independent Examinations Board (IEB), following the announcement that IEB candidates achieved an overall pass rate of 98.31% in the IEB NSC examination, says the organisation.
The Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, announced that the 88% pass rate is the highest achieved since the introduction of the current NSC system, and within an inclusive education dispensation, adds the organisation.
"We extend our sincere congratulations to every matriculant of the class of 2025. Your hard work and perseverance have paid off. May 2026 be a year of new opportunities, growth and prosperity in which you go from strength to strength," says Hannes Noëth, Executive Director of Solidariteit Helpende Hand.
Noëth says the achievement confirms a core principle that Solidariteit Helpende Hand has lived out for many years: education is the key to self-reliance through work, and meaningful employment leads to sustainable wellbeing rather than long-term welfare dependency, says the organisation.
"Empowerment through work means enabling people, through education and training, to earn an income independently and to build lasting wellbeing. A high pass rate is an important starting point, but the true measure of success lies in what follows thereafter. When young people gain access to further education, training, skills development and employment, they are empowered to build their futures independently and to contribute meaningfully to their families, communities and the economy," adds Noëth.
The organisation also welcomes the Minister's call for earlier intervention, stronger support in key subjects and the addressing of dropout rates. "Sustainable solutions do not lie in dependency, but in targeted investment in people's ability to learn, work and live independently," says Noëth.
Solidariteit Helpende Hand believes that every young person empowered through education is proof that self-reliance through work is the path to lasting wellbeing and a stronger, more resilient society, concludes the organisation.
For more information, visit www.helpendehand.co.za. You can also follow Solidariteit Helpende Hand on Facebook, X, or on Instagram.
*Image courtesy of contributor