Country Profile

SOUTH AFRICA

Education is compulsory from the age of seven (grade 1) to the age of 15 (grade 9). The education system runs all the way from grade 0 (otherwise known as reception) to grade 12.

From grades 10 to 12, education is optional and is sometimes taught in specialist technical, community or private colleges, where they take a school-leaving exam known as the Matric. In 2015, only 70.7% of students passed the Matric test, with only half of students getting more than 50%.