Feb 23, 2021 Writing matric exams is challenging for most students as it is the culmination of their secondary education journey. However, writing these exams during the global Covid-19 pandemic, after a year of adapting to numerous pressures during the academic year, was an even tougher challenge for the matric class of 2020. “In light of these challenges, it is not surprising that the pass rate has dropped to 76.2%, compared to 81.3% in 2019,” says Michelle Baron-Williamson, chief transformation officer of Managed Integrity Evaluation (MIE). “South Africa’s youth is resilient, however, and I am hopeful that as students embark on their studies this year – more accustomed to a new way of learning – we will see the matric pass rate rise again in 2021.”