UJ Academy 100% matric pass rate shines a light on the high school to university transition
University of Johannesburg Vice Chancellor Letlhokwa Mpedi says the 100% matric pass rate obtained by UJ Academy - the university-affiliated secondary school shows a valuable lesson that with “the right methodology, resources and well-trained staff” the university can expand its impact in basic education.
UJ Academy has a consistent record of top performance; however, the 2025 NSC matric 100% pass rate achievement takes the school back to its former glory. The academy was established in 1992 to broaden access to quality education for learners from less-privileged backgrounds.
Alongside UJ Academy the university is also affiliated with Funda UJabule School, a specialist teaching school within the Faculty of Education and formally recognised by UNESCO as part of its global network of institutions advancing quality education.
“Our model demonstrates what is possible when education is intentionally connected — a learner can begin at UJ’s Funda UJabule Primary School, progress through UJ’s High School and ultimately graduate from the University of Johannesburg,” said Mpedi.
“I always say that at UJ you can start your foundation phase up to your PhD,” said Mpedi.
The UJ Vice-Chancellor said the results are a testament which speaks volumes to the Strategic Plan 2035 for outward looking university community which has a positive impact on society. Mpedi highlighted the UJ’s partnership with Hanyani High School in Limpopo as an example of the continued trend.
The UJ Academy’s affiliation with UJ aims to prepare learners for a successful university education. It has positioned itself as an unconventional transition school to university and a close contact bridge between schooling and higher education.
UJ Academy Principal Rehana Jardine said the staff is “ecstatic” and “proud” about the perfect rate achievement. She said that although staff and learners managed well during challenging Covid-19 conditions the 100% pass rate shows the results of continued teamwork and collaboration with multiple stakeholders within the education ecosystem, including learners, parents, the school governing body and the university.
She says the relationship with UJ’s faculties of Education and Science gives the school access to support to continually explore various innovations in education and
the world at large.
Jardine said UJ provides operational governance support and exploration of new learning areas, which contributes to the overall stability and performance of the school.
“Our hopes are to continue with this performance and to continually strive to improve,” she said, adding the affiliation with UJ enables the school to provide additional resources which sustain the standard of learning in multiple ways.”
The Academy’s success is closely linked to its alignment with UJ’s Faculty of Education, which provides academic leadership, curriculum development, teacher professional support and continuous innovation in teaching and learning.
Through this relationship, UJ Academy forms part of a broader education ecosystem anchored within the University, where schools are not isolated sites of delivery but active spaces for pedagogical excellence, research and teacher development.
“We work with children from where they are and approach them as individuals while being part of a group,” she said.
With a strong focus on ICT and digital learning, UJ Academy immerses learners in technology-enabled teaching and learning environments that mirror university systems. Learners gain early familiarity with digital platforms, online research tools and blended learning methodologies.
Regular engagement with UJ faculties through exposure
in research, academic programmes and structured career guidance further demystifies higher education and builds academic confidence well before learners enter undergraduate study.
Professor Nadine Petersen, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education at UJ, says that although learners are not mandated to choose the university for their qualifications, learners at the UJ Academy are already part of the ecosystem and stand a better chance at the high school university transition.
Petersen said the 100% matric pass rate, particularly with 90% of learners qualifying for Bachelor’s degree admission, speaks to the power of a holistic and well-supported education model.
“It reflects sustained academic commitment, effective teaching and leadership and a culture that sets high expectations while ensuring learners are supported to meet them. Outcomes such as these demonstrate what is possible when quality schooling, institutional support and learner resilience align,” said Petersen.
The academy has also produced 22 distinctions in Accounting, 16 for Afrikaans, 15 for Life Sciences and several more for English, Mathematics, Physical Sciences and ComputerApplication Technology.
Petersen said the university seeks to collaborate with partners that support increasing participation and performance
in STEM-related. “This is how UJ can play a part in the building of the country,” she said.
She said oftentimes parents are not able to take their learners through the Foundation phase to PhD UJ pipeline due to feeder school restrictions and costs. The university partners with multiple stakeholders in efforts to widely impact basic education, said Peterson.
UJ Academy provides an alternative option for learners in their pursuit for qualification. UJ Vice-Chancellor Mpedi says learners at the Academy are exposed to career options and first-hand experience of undergraduate studies while at the school level.
During the announcement of the 2025 NSC results the minister of basic education Siviwe Gwarube highlighted the challenge with learner retention, especially in maths and science subjects. Analysts say education reform should include higher retention of learners throughout the Grade 1 to Grade 12 pipeline.
“A healthy system must grow the number of learners taking mathematics and physical science without sacrificing quality. That is why our next phase pairs higher participation with stronger support — better materials, targeted teacher development and earlier intervention so learners arrive in these subjects ready to succeed,” said Gwarube.
Mpedi says UJ Academy exemplifies the University’s responsibility across the education continuum. With the uni-* versity’s affiliation the academy can maintain a consistent education ecosystem which raises the chances of retention.
“The UJ Academy is one of our pioneering and flagship projects to help learners from previously disadvantaged communities in the critical areas of Maths and Science. Insights generated through Funda UJabule – which serves as a centre for teaching practice, research and innovation and new approaches to curriculum design and teaching methodologies – are applied across UJ-associated schools, including UJ Academy,” he said.
He says the 100% matric results affirm the value of UJ’s integrated education model. He says the UJ Academy positions learners for long-term success at an early stage of their schooling phase which provides expanded opportunity well beyond the school gates.
The academy’s close proximity to the Auckland Park campus serves as an opportunity for learners to experience university culture early and gain exposure to interesting fields of study. Learners who are able to go through the UJ pipeline have added advantage when facing options, risks and challenges at university level.
The UJ Academy affiliation shows that increased participation of universities at learner experience with basic education raises exam performance and stands a good chance at solving the retention rate crisis.