Speaking with Jeremy Maggs on the Moneyweb Podcast, Graeme Wilkinson, Senior Social Investment Specialist at Tshikululu Social Investments, unpacks what South Africa’s matric results do and do not reveal about the state of the education system.

While the country’s 88% matric pass rate reflects progress and resilience, Wilkinson highlights a deeper structural challenge: the narrowing education pipeline. A significant proportion of learners exit the system before completing Grade 9, limiting both academic and vocational pathways. As he explains, celebrating pass rates without addressing quality, retention, and credible alternatives risks overlooking where the system continues to fail young people.

In the conversation, Wilkinson emphasises the urgent need to strengthen vocational and skills-based pathways alongside traditional academic routes. Trades, technical skills, and community-based training must become viable, aspirational options if South Africa is to build an inclusive and resilient economy.

This interview touches on Wilkinson’s recent opinion piece “An 88% pass rate is real progress. The question is who falls out before matric“