RECOGNISING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF SOCIAL GRANT BENEFICIARIES: GRADE 12 CLASS OF 2025

By Tholakele Makena

• A new Department of Social Development (DSD) report shows that many learners receiving social grants are achieving strong matric results, including distinctions and bachelor passes.
• Government collaboration between DSD, Basic Education, SASSA and NSFAS is helping track the educational progress of vulnerable learners and improve support programmes.
• Exceptional students from the 2025 matric cohort who received social grants will be acknowledged at a national recognition ceremony in East London on 27 March 2026.

As the Department of Social Development (DSD) continues strengthening social protection measures for vulnerable children, encouraging outcomes are emerging from the long-term investments made by government to support learners from disadvantaged households.

A range of social protection programmes, including social grants, school nutrition schemes, no-fee schools, sanitary dignity products for girls, and learner support initiatives such as psychosocial services, aim to ensure that children facing socio-economic challenges have a fair opportunity to succeed in their education and future careers.

Speaking on these developments, Dez Jason, Director for Policy and Programme Evaluation at the Department of Social Development, said collaboration among key government partners has been essential in assessing the impact of these interventions in addressing intergenerational poverty.

Through partnerships with the Department of Basic Education, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), government has made significant progress in analysing the impact of social protection programmes.

Collaborative data-sharing across these institutions has helped demonstrate the scale of government investment in poor households and enabled the tracking of the educational journeys of learners who benefit from social grants and other forms of social protection.

According to Jason, the findings from this work are encouraging.
“We are seeing a positive trend where learners who are social grant beneficiaries are completing their matric with strong results, including distinctions, bachelor passes, and diploma passes. These achievements create opportunities for them to access higher education and training institutions, many of which are supported through NSFAS funding,” she explained.

In line with these developments, the Department of Social Development has developed an analytical report examining the academic performance of learners who wrote the 2025 National Senior Certificate examinations while receiving social protection services. The report also reflects on the experiences and pathways of these learners as they transition beyond Grade 12.

In this context, the Department plans to host a recognition ceremony for the Grade 12 Social Grant Beneficiaries Class of 2025.
“The purpose of the ceremony is to acknowledge the hard work and determination of these learners, as well as the support provided by their caregivers,” Jason said.
The recognition ceremony is scheduled to take place on 27 March 2026 in East London, where selected learners and their caregivers will be recognised for their academic achievements and community involvement by the Minister of Social Development, Honourable Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe.

Jason noted that the recognition initiative is not only about celebrating success, but also about highlighting the broader impact of social protection programmes and identifying ways to strengthen pathways beyond school, including linking social grant beneficiaries to internships, further education opportunities and employment prospects.

“When we recognise these learners, we are also demonstrating the important role that social protection programmes play in improving educational outcomes and creating opportunities for young people to pursue further studies,” she said.

The ceremony will also provide an opportunity to share insights from the educational outcomes report and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders working to improve services for vulnerable children.

The report provides evidence that social assistance, basic education support, and tertiary funding collectively contribute to breaking cycles of poverty.
For the Department of Social Development, recognising the achievements of the Class of 2025 social grant beneficiaries underscores government’s continued commitment to supporting learners and ensuring that opportunities remain accessible to those who need them most.

“Social protection is not only about providing assistance,” Jason added. “It is about creating opportunities and supporting children so that they can reach their full potential and contribute positively to society.”