Matric pass rate drops to 70.7% in 2015

This was down from 75.8% achieved in 2014, she said at the release of the results in Midrand, Johannesburg.

If so-called "progressed learners" had not been added to the total, the pass rate would have been 74%.

These were pupils who failed Grade 11 twice and were promoted to Grade 12 without meeting the passing criteria.ATE

See pass rates as per province below.

1. Western Cape - 84.7 %

2. Gauteng - 84.2%

3. Free State - 81.6 %

4. North West - 81.5%

5. Mpumalanga - 78.6 %

6. Northern cape - 69.4%

7. Limpopo - 65.9%

8. KwaZulu-Natal - 60.7%

9. Eastern Cape - 56.8 %

(File photo: Gallo Images)