South Africa’s inmate matric pass rate has climbed to 94.4% for the 2025 National Senior Certificate exams, showing what can happen when education is treated like a real second chance.

180 Inmates Wrote, 15 Schools Hit 100%

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said 180 learners from 18 correctional services schools sat for matric in 2025. Fifteen schools achieved a 100% pass rate, up from 13 the year before, and learners earned 132 distinctions.

The results were released by Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald at the Goodwood Correctional Centre in the Western Cape.

KZN Leads on Bachelor Passes

KwaZulu-Natal produced the highest number of inmate matriculants, with 50 candidates writing. Of those, 45 achieved bachelor passes. Usethubeni Youth School at Westville Correctional Centre accounted for 31 candidates, with every one of them earning bachelor passes.

Usethubeni also delivered the most distinctions (58), followed closely by Baviaanspoort Youth School in Gauteng (56).

Top Performers and What Comes Next

The top learner was Nkosinathi Jabulani Gumede from Usethubeni, with an overall average of 85.5%. Tyrique Jooste from Baviaanspoort placed second on 84.4%.

Groenewald also flagged a worrying shift away from Mathematics towards Mathematical Literacy, saying it could limit future study and job options. At the same time, he urged inmates to use education as a pathway into safer communities and stronger reintegration.