Page 13 - Education Supplement February 2026

IEB EDITORIAL

The Independent Examinations Board While strong literacy and numeracy Together, these assessments
(IEB) anchors independent education skills are essential, long-term success provide meaningful insight into
in South Africa through assessment depends as much on curiosity, learner development and ensure
that embodies academic excellence, resilience, and the ability to reason, continuity across key phases of
credibility and consistency. In question and apply knowledge. schooling. Most importantly, they
partnership with independent help children move into high
schools nationwide, the IEB offers Through the Primary School Initiative school confident, academically
an assessment pathway that (psi), the IEB supports independent secure, and well-prepared.
supports meaningful learning from schools with assessments that
the early years through to matric, go beyond rote learning or exam Because independent education
Further Studies and adult education, technique. Learners are encouraged is not only about strong results
underpinned by standards that hold to engage with ideas, collaborate, – it is about developing learners
their value over time. and apply their thinking in meaningful who are equipped for learning,
contexts – building intellectual for life and for the future.
AN ASSESSMENT confidence from an early age.
PATHWAY BUILT ON TRUST A QUALIFICATION THAT
The IEB is not focused on short-term IEB Primary School Assessments OPENS DOORS
performance or inflated results. Its include: As learners move through
role is to ensure that achievement is • International Benchmark Tests high school, the credibility of
assessed fairly, independently and (IBT) – Grades 3–7: assessment and qualification
with academic integrity – so that Measure learners’ ability to apply standards becomes increasingly
results signal real readiness for the core skills, reason critically and important. For families with
next stage of learning. solve problems at an internationally an eye on tertiary education,
benchmarked standard. stability and trust matter.
STRONG FOUNDATIONS • Grade 6 Core Skills:
MATTER Assess the thinking, reading and The IEB National Senior
“Education is not just preparation for numeracy skills that should be Certificate (NSC) is recognised
exams, but preparation for life.” securely established by the end of for its consistency, depth and
the Intermediate Phase. academic rigour.
For parents choosing independent • Grade 7 MATCH Assessment:
education, the primary years are Assess learners’ readiness to
critical. These are the years in which apply critical thinking, literacy
children learn to think, to approach and problem-solving skills as
challenges, and to see themselves as they transition into the academic
capable learners. demands of high school.

IEB 2025 RESULTS AT A GLANCE

17 413 candidates wrote the IEB NSC examinations in 2025.

98,31% overall pass rate in the 2025 NSC examinations.

89.12% of candidates achieved a Bachelor’s degree pass, qualifying them for
university study.

All successful IEB candidates qualified for post school study at degree, diploma
or higher certificate level.

Education | February 2026 | 11