Durban | Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre | Tuesday, 13 January 2026 - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Honourable Thamsanqa Ntuli officially announced the 2025 National Senior Certificate results for the province, describing the performance of the Class of 2025 as historic and a major milestone in the journey of education in KwaZulu-Natal.

Addressing a gathering of education leaders, learners, parents and government officials at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, Premier Ntuli said the results demonstrated that the provincial education system was stabilising and moving in the right direction, despite the many socio-economic challenges faced by learners and schools across the province.

He credited the achievement to the hard work and resilience of learners, educators, school leadership, parents and the Department of Education, noting that the results were not accidental but the outcome of sustained commitment and targeted interventions to improve teaching and learning outcomes.

Premier Ntuli said the Provincial Government took pride in the results, as they reflected the impact of deliberate efforts to strengthen learner support and enhance the quality of education. He emphasised that when government works together with communities and education stakeholders, meaningful and measurable progress is possible.

While celebrating the achievement, the Premier was candid about the challenges that continue to affect the education sector. He highlighted persistent infrastructure backlogs, overcrowded and under-resourced schools, safety concerns, teenage pregnancy and poverty as serious issues that still undermine the learning environment for many learners.

He stressed that education is about more than pass rates, pointing out that dignity, safety, nutrition and social support are just as important in ensuring that every child can thrive academically and socially.

Premier Ntuli also reflected on the financial pressures facing the Department of Education over the past eighteen months, noting that the Executive Council of the Government of Provincial Unity had taken decisive steps to protect education during a period of severe fiscal constraints. This included the prioritisation of Norms and Standards funding, which he said was critical for the day-to-day functioning of schools and the maintenance of a conducive learning environment.

Looking ahead, the Premier announced that the province would convene a KwaZulu-Natal Education Consultative Session in the first quarter of 2026 as part of the Sustainable Dialogue Programme. The session will bring together teachers, unions, school governing bodies, parents, academics, civil society and education practitioners to reflect on the state of education in the province and jointly develop practical solutions to ongoing challenges.

He said the consultative session would be guided by mutual respect and collaboration, with a focus on finding sustainable ways to strengthen the education system in the best interests of learners.

Premier Ntuli further announced that a Provincial Job Summit would be held in the first quarter of the year to address the transition from school to post-school education, training and employment. The summit will bring together government, business, organised labour, training institutions and youth formations to identify future skills needs and align education and economic development more effectively.

The Premier said KwaZulu-Natal must ensure that strong matric results translate into real opportunities for young people, particularly in a labour market being reshaped by technology, digitalisation, the green economy and new forms of work.

He concluded by reaffirming the provincial government’s commitment to education as a foundation for freedom, dignity and economic participation, stating that by investing in the minds of young people, KwaZulu-Natal was investing in a more prosperous and inclusive future for all.