The province has achieved an 88.4% pass rate,followed by Gauteng at 87.2% and then the North West at 86.8%. Announcing the 2019 class’ matric results on Tuesday, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said top performing districts that achieved above 85% are from Gauteng and the Free State. The province's Fazile Dabi District and Xhariep District are the two that stood out, while the leading district in the North West is Bojanala with 89.6%.

The national pass rate is standing at 81.3%, which is a significant improvement of 3.1% from 78.2% in 2018.

Motshekga has nonetheless alluded that the Free State achieved the highest pass rate, while Gauteng achieved the highest bachelor passes and the Western Cape the highest distinctions.

She reiterated that more needs to be done to ensure that the state of education is improved throughout the country and that there is a greater focus on the state of education at foundational phase.

She further congratulated teachers and parents for supporting the class of 2019.

Each of the provinces are on Wednesday expected to announce their provincial results and hold an award ceremony to acknowledge top performing 100 learners.

Free State Education MEC Tate Makgoe is expected to lead the provincial ceremony at the Central University of Technology (CUT).

OFM News/Katleho Morapela and Marvin Ntsane