By Johnathan Paoli

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has declared the province fully ready to administer the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations and to begin placing learners for the 2026 academic year.

Speaking ahead of the exam season, Chiloane said the department’s preparations were “complete and credible”, with all 1,040 examination centres audited, compliant, and staffed with trained invigilators and monitors.

“Our systems are ready, our officials are prepared, and our learners have been supported through every possible intervention. We are confident that Gauteng will once again deliver credible results that reflect the hard work of our teachers and learners,” Chiloane said.

The NSC exams will begin next week Tuesday, and conclude on 27 November.

This year, a total of 192,745 candidates have registered to write, 144,246 full-time and 48,499 part-time, marking a six percent increase in full-time enrolments compared to 2024.

Chiloane said the rise reflected growing confidence in the public schooling system and a commitment to ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to complete their basic education.

The MEC praised the Class of 2024 for achieving an 88.41 percent pass rate, with 66,979 bachelor passes, the province’s highest number since 1996, and expressed confidence that this year’s cohort would go even further.

“We have set ourselves a target of reaching a 90 percent pass rate, and preliminary assessments show that we are on course. The Class of 2025 has shown resilience and discipline, and we believe they will rise to the occasion,” he said.

Chiloane attributed the province’s continued academic improvement to a mix of targeted support programmes and innovative digital learning platforms. Initiatives such as the Secondary School Improvement Programme (SSIP), High Flyer interventions, and live broadcast lessons have provided learners with extensive academic support.

“Through these programmes, we ensure that no learner is left behind, especially those in underperforming schools and communities facing service delivery challenges,” he said.

He noted that the department would continue to offer daily revision sessions under the Just-in-Time programme during the examination period to help learners consolidate their knowledge before each paper.

Turning to exam integrity, Chiloane said additional chief invigilators and monitors had been deployed to large examination centres, while new security mechanisms were in place to prevent irregularities, including paper leaks.

He urged candidates to arrive early at their centres, follow all screening procedures, and avoid bringing prohibited items such as cellphones or smartwatches into exam rooms.

“Cheating is not only unethical, it can destroy your future. Learners found guilty of dishonesty face having their results nullified and being barred from writing for up to three years,” he warned.

All candidates will sign the NSC Pledge next week Friday, committing themselves to the Examination Code of Conduct.

Chiloane also appealed to parents and communities to create a peaceful environment for learners during this period.

“We urge parents to provide emotional support and to ensure learners have quiet spaces to study. Communities must avoid protests or disruptions near schools, as even a single missed paper can set a learner back an entire year,” he said.

The marking process will take place between 16 November and 12 December, with the national release of results set for 12 January 2026 and the provincial release the following day.

Learners will be able to collect their statements of results from their schools on 13 January.

Chiloane reminded learners who missed the Life Orientation Common Assessment Task in September to attend the rewrite scheduled for 14 October, warning that those who do not complete it this year will only qualify to write again in September 2026.

The MEC also confirmed that the department is ready to begin the placement phase for the 2026 online admissions cycle on Thursday, 16 October.

During the application period between 24 July and 29 August, the GDE received more than 820,000 applications from over 358,000 unique users.

Chiloane explained that placement offers would be issued via SMS on a rolling basis from 16 October and urged parents to accept offers within seven school days to avoid losing their preferred placements.

He emphasised that placement decisions are guided by proximity and family connections to schools rather than the order in which applications were submitted.

To accommodate high demand, the department has deployed 786 mobile classrooms to 223 schools across the province, particularly in high-pressure areas such as Johannesburg South, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.

He encouraged parents to resolve any placement disputes through the established objection and appeal processes, which the department has pledged to handle within prescribed timeframes.

Chiloane ended with declaring his department’s confidence and pride as the province enters this critical period for both examinations and admissions, calling on the class of 2025 to stay focused, disciplined and believing in their potential.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Akani Nkuna

Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela said on Saturday that the violent incidents at the University of Fort Hare in Alice, Eastern Cape, were acts of criminality, not protest.

This follows violent demonstrations at the university’s Alice campus on Wednesday when ‘protesters’ burned several administrative and staff buildings.

The unrest stems from a range of grievances, including calls for the Vice-Chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu’s resignation, delays in National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) payments, and demands for immediate student leadership elections.

Addressing the media in Hatfield, Pretoria, Manamela outlined his department’s intervention measures following the week’s events, saying the destruction of property and intimidation of staff could not be tolerated.

He also emphasised that students who allegedly committed “such atrocious acts” ought to be classified as criminals and be subjected to the full might of the law.

“This is criminality even if these people are students. They are basically unleashing crime. We need to make a distinction between people who are students and also people who are criminals. Criminals who are also in the process endangering the lives of other students,” Manamela added.

He said that his department was working closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Eastern Cape provincial government and the university’s security teams to restore calm and protect students and staff.

“A university should be a space of learning, hope and progress, not one of fear and destruction,” he said.

“The burning of buildings, the intimidation of staff, and the disruption of teaching and learning can never be justified.”

Manamela said the priority was to ensure that the academic programme resumes within the coming week.

“I met with the University Council yesterday and directed management to implement all necessary measures to reopen safely — including temporary online learning where required.”

He stressed that students must be able to complete their studies in peace and safety.

“That is non-negotiable. The university must ensure that the academic year is not put in jeopardy.”

Manamela said he had also instructed the University Council to reflect on several critical issues during its Sunday meeting, including governance and leadership, the role and status of the SRC, institutional culture, concerns about the Vice-Chancellor’s contract, and the in-sourcing of workers.

“In the coming week, I will respond in greater detail to the feedback from the ministerial team led by Professor Ahmed Bawa, which has been engaging students, staff, and other stakeholders over the past several days. Their work is central to shaping the next phase of our intervention,” he said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Lebone Rodah Mosima

South Africa’s young people have called on the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) to move “beyond consultation into coordinated action” during a national dialogue aimed at shaping a shared vision for the country’s future.

The gathering – the Youth Consultation 2025 – was hosted by the NYDA this week in partnership with the South African Youth Council (SAYC), youth-led movements, political formations, and civil society organisations. It was described by the agency as the first of its kind since its establishment at the dawn of democracy.

According to the NYDA, the consultation “marks a historic new chapter in South Africa’s youth development trajectory where the Consultation is not only making space for reflection, but for collective renewal and reminding them of that, the future of this nation must be co-authored by its youth.”

Delegates debated critical issues such as youth unemployment, education and skills alignment, disengagement, inclusivity and access. Their discussions produced a common demand for change, and that policies should not just be discussed, but implemented.

“Across these discussions, there was a resounding call for the NYDA and its partners to move beyond consultation into coordinated action – transforming insights into policy, and policy into measurable impact,” the NYDA said in a statement.

The conference comes at a time when South Africa is grappling with youth unemployment of about 46%, often described as a “ticking time bomb” by politicians and policy experts.

NYDA Executive Chairperson Sunshine Myende said the agency hopes the event will help reignite the spirit of unity among young people.

“This is a platform that reminds us that our democracy is strongest when young people are at its centre – not as spectators, but as active participants in shaping its direction.”

“The NYDA is committed to taking forward every insight, every demand, and every idea that emerged from this gathering – ensuring that the voices of young people are not only heard, but reflected in the policies and programmes, that define our nation’s future,” Myende said.

The NYDA said it will use the outcomes of the consultation to inform both the Integrated Youth Development Strategy (IYDS) and the broader national development agenda.

It also pledged to ensure that “every young person across provinces to wherever they are, have a voice in shaping the policies that affect their lives.”

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have called for an urgent multi-stakeholder meeting to address what the party describes as a “catastrophic and escalating crisis” at the University of Fort Hare (UFH), where violent student protests have plunged the institution into turmoil and forced the suspension of all academic activities.

The call follows a wave of destructive protests that worsened this week, leaving parts of the historic university in ruins.

Angry students, protesting over student representation and alleged governance failures, torched several buildings, including the main administration building, which was burned to the ground in scenes that have shocked the higher education sector.

The unrest caused destruction estimated at R500 million, crippling critical facilities such as the exams department, staff centre, faculty of agriculture, and the HR building.

In a letter dated 9 October, addressed to the Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, EFF MP Sihle Lonzi urged swift and coordinated intervention by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), university management, student representatives, and law enforcement agencies.

“The crisis at the University of Fort Hare has reached a level that demands urgent and coordinated intervention,” Lonzi wrote.

“The continued destruction not only threatens the university’s immediate functioning but also its long-term survival as an institution of national and historic significance.”

The EFF attributes the unrest to unresolved disputes over student governance, allegations of abuse of power by management, the refusal to hold democratic elections, and poor residence conditions, issues that have fuelled anger and mistrust between students and university leadership.

The letter also raises concerns of possible third-party interference, alleging that “actors with interests beyond those of the student body” may be deliberately escalating the violence.

Lonzi warned that prolonged instability could be exploited by private security and construction companies seeking financial gain from rebuilding contracts, calling for such allegations to be urgently investigated.

“These allegations warrant serious and immediate investigation,” Lonzi said.

“If left unchecked, such interference risks turning legitimate student grievances into a tool for profiteering and institutional sabotage.”

The EFF cautioned that the ongoing turmoil threatens to erode its legacy and symbolic importance in South Africa’s history.

“The University of Fort Hare is not only an academic institution. It is a symbol of South Africa and Africa’s intellectual heritage and liberation archive,” Lonzi stated.

“To allow its continued destabilisation would be a national catastrophe for generations to come.”

The EFF urged Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education to urgently convene a multi-stakeholder meeting that would bring together DHET, the Council and executive management of the University of Fort Hare, student and academic representatives, as well as relevant oversight and investigative agencies.

The party said such a gathering is essential to restore institutional order, de-escalate tensions, and develop a credible recovery plan that addresses the governance, safety, and accountability failures that have plunged the university into crisis.

“The academic year is at risk of total collapse,” Lonzi warned.

“Further acts of violence, injury, and potential loss of life will follow if leadership fails to act now.”

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Akani Nkuna 

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has pledged to introduce measures aimed at reducing teachers’ administrative workloads, allowing them to focus more on their core mandate of teaching and ensuring their energy is not diverted to non-instructional duties.

Speaking at the 25th National Teaching Awards (NTA) on Thursday at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Gwarube told delegates — including some of the country’s top educators, government officials, and learners — that consultations were underway with the relevant council to reassign certain administrative tasks to teaching assistants and school administrative staff.

“Yet too often their time is consumed by non-instructional administrative tasks that divert energy away from teaching. Reducing non-instructional admin is not about lowering accountability – it is about respecting teachers as professionals and giving them back the time to teach our learners,” said Gwarube.

The minister emphasised the point of streamlining reporting and removing “low value” tasks.

She further advocated for thorough use of technological innovations to enable faster and smarter compliance that is not prone to disruptions. 

Gwarube also underscored the importance of strengthening foundational education to foster the culture of literacy and numeracy, saying that the government has undertaken to expand the Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes to accommodate children within a larger scale.

This comes after the Thrive by Five Index showed that children who were excluded from the programme “fell behind with their cognitive and physical development,” she said, and that the department has set itself an ambitious target to register 10 000 ECD centres by 31 December 2025.

“We are moving decisively on compulsory Grade R. Provinces are doing what they can with the resources available, while we work with the National Treasury to secure additional funding, to ensure that we roll out Grade R to all learners who require it,” Gwarube added.

During the awards ceremony, the Western Cape emerged as the top-performing province, claiming four Excellence Awards — in Special Needs Teaching, Life Skills (Grades 1–6), the My Teacher Ministerial Special Award, and Excellence in Teaching Physical Sciences.

Limpopo ranked second, taking home three awards, including Excellence in Teaching Mathematics, Excellence in Secondary School Teaching, and Excellence in Grade R Teaching.

The Eastern Cape was the only province without a top-spot winner, while KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Northern Cape, and Mpumalanga each secured one first-place position.

However, Mpumalanga’s Thulani Sibiya stood out as the overall winner, being crowned the 2025 National Best Teacher Award recipient.

He also received the Kader Asmal Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of more than three decades of dedicated service to education.

Following his crowning, Sibiya told Inside Education that he was ecstatic to see his lifelong efforts finally recognised at a national level.

“I am so excited. And this is [belongs] to the whole province of Mpumalanga whom I am really proud to be their pride. This means so much to the province that they produced the best of the best educators in the whole country,” he said.

Sibiya expressed gratitude to his support structures, including Sophungane Secondary School, where he currently teaches, and Shinyukane Secondary School, where his teaching journey began.

INSIDE EDUCATION

Inside Education Reporter

The University of Fort Hare has announced the “immediate temporary shutdown of all operations” at its Alice and East London campuses following what it described as an escalation of “criminal activities associated with the recent protest,” despite a court order prohibiting such conduct.

In a statement released late on Thursday, the university said the decision was taken “with deep regret” after continued acts of intimidation, violence, and destruction of property.

“The University has no alternative but to take this drastic measure in the face of persistent disruption of university business; intimidation and threats directed at staff and students; physical harm to students residing in campus residences; the burning and destruction of University infrastructure (at least six significant university buildings); and ongoing defiance of the court order and the rule of law,” it said.

Tensions initially boiled over on Tuesday after the university announced plans to appoint an interim Student Representative Council (SRC) while amending the institution’s student governance constitution.

Students rejected the move, demanding that the amendments be overseen by a democratically elected SRC. The unrest escalated as demonstrators clashed with security and police.

“There is chaos that has erupted on campus. Students were fighting with Falcon Security, allegedly assisted by police officers. They shot students using real bullets here in Alice Campus. One student was shot on the left knee, and another just above the heart near the shoulder,” student leader Uzusiphe Vuzane told journalists.

At least six buildings were torched. (Video supplied)

The Bhisho High Court issued an interim order on Tuesday that prohibited unlawful activities on the campuses, including unauthorised meetings, blocking access, damaging property, and threatening staff or students. But the institution said these acts “have continued unabated”.

“The University therefore has no option but to suspend all physical academic activities until further notice,” management said, adding that “online academic interactions may continue as directed by the DVC: Teaching and Learning and DVC: Research, Partnerships and Innovation”.

The university said the shutdown was necessary “to safeguard the lives and safety of students, staff, and visitors, and to protect University property from further damage”.

Students have alleged they were shot with live ammunition during protests. (Video supplied)

Expressing “deep disappointment and regret,” the university said the actions of a few individuals had “endangered the safety of the entire University community and disrupted the academic programme”.

It added that the destruction of property pointed to “much bigger issues, with a significant component of sponsored violence and criminality.”

All students have been instructed to vacate university premises by 5pm on 9 October 2025. International students are to contact the international office for assistance with evacuation arrangements.

“Further communication will follow regarding the phased reopening of campuses once it is deemed safe to do so.”

The university called for “calm, restraint, and cooperation from all members of the University community during this period”.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Lebone Rodah Mosima

South Africa and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation in science, technology and innovation as Africa’s largest economies mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary this week.

South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Nomalungelo Gina, met Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner, Alexander Temitope Ajayi in Pretoria to discuss ways to implement a bilateral agreement on scientific and technological cooperation signed in 2001.

“Reviving our STI partnership could unlock immense potential for collaborative research, technology transfer, capacity building, and joint innovation projects”, Gina said.

She said that the renewed collaboration could open new opportunities in renewable energy, health innovation, digital transformation, and space science, areas that align with both countries’ development priorities and the African Union’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2034).

Ajayi said that South Africa and Nigeria have the required resources to operationalise the existing STI agreement, within which several areas of collaboration could be exploited, and expressed commitment in this regard.

He said the plethora of innovators and entrepreneurs in and areas of cooperation would be discussed during the upcoming binational commission in Abuja between the countries’ foreign affairs ministers.

“The time has come for technology to play a very revolutionary role in the development of Africa, and South Africa and Nigeria can collaborate in digital technologies to position the continent to the outside world as a leader in this sector”, Ajayi said.

Ajayi also spoke of the proposed establishment of a Special Technology Envoy on Digital and Emerging Technologies, another area of collaboration to exploit with South Africa.

“This establishment will be a high-level diplomatic mechanism that will serve as the permanent representative body within the African Union systems, leading on all technology-related matters, both within Africa and globally,” he said.

“This initiative aims to position the African continent as an active voice and contributor in the formulation of international technology investments, geopolitics, policy, governance norms, and innovation-driven development”.

According to DSTI, other areas of cooperation were discussed, including technical visits, people-to-people exchanges, as well as collaboration on research and development among universities in both countries.

“As Africa’s two largest economies, South Africa and Nigeria share a responsibility to drive the continent’s development agenda and ensure that innovation becomes a cornerstone of Africa’s growth”, Gina said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Charmaine Ndlela

The country’s 14th National Schools Moot Court competition opened this week at the University of Pretoria with preliminary oral rounds underway ahead of the grand finale on October 12 at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg.

The final round will be presided over by judges from the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal, the High Court, as well as senior magistrates and legal practitioners.

The programme is a joint initiative of the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, guided by the South African Human Rights Commission and supported by the University of Pretoria.

Launched by the university a decade ago, the competition aims to promote constitutional literacy and encourage young South Africans to engage with issues of justice and human rights.

Professor Tshepo Madlingozi shared a message of support for the contestants at the oral rounds, telling them: “We are here to empower you to be legal warriors. You will come out of this process with advocacy and research skills.”

The programme is primarily for Grade 10 and 11 students from all provinces.

Participants gain essential skills in public speaking, research, writing, legal reasoning and case analysis.

The learners are allowed to argue their case in any of the 11 official languages in the oral rounds before judges in an actual court scenario.

The 2025 moot aims to focus on the constitutionality of school language admission policies, particularly those prescribing a single language of instruction.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, is set to brief the media on Saturday about the state of affairs at the University of Fort Hare (UFH) and the Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET) 2024/25 Annual Report.

The briefing comes amid growing concerns over violent student protests at the university, which have left parts of the campus in ruins and the academic programme suspended.

The unrest, which escalated this week, saw students burning the university’s administration building to the ground after days of protests over student representation and alleged governance failures.

Announcing the upcoming briefing, the DHET said Manamela would not only present the department’s annual performance outcomes but also unpack the audit findings and outline the department’s action plan for the next reporting cycle.

The annual report, tabled in Parliament on 30 September, forms part of government’s commitment to transparency and accountability within the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector.

However, much of the public attention is expected to focus on the situation at Fort Hare, a historically significant institution that has been rocked by instability in recent years.

The minister is expected to provide an update on the implementation of stabilisation measures at the university, including efforts to restore governance, strengthen management systems, and improve security.

The violent turn of events at Fort Hare has drawn strong condemnation from Parliament. The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Science and the Creative Industries, Makhi Feni, described the destruction of university property as “an anti-thesis of what university education is about”.

“The actions of burning public benefit institutions for no apparent reason set back poor students and infrastructure development by years,” Feni said.

“It is unacceptable that, at a time when we are battling accommodation shortages, students choose to destroy facilities that serve them.”

Feni criticised the timing of the protests, saying they appear to have been orchestrated to disrupt the examination period.

“It is unfortunate that we find ourselves regressing when Fort Hare University has improved on so many aspects, including governance, research output, and programme offerings,” he added.

Similarly, the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training, chaired by Tebogo Letsie, called for “open dialogue” and urged all parties to engage constructively to resolve the crisis.

Letsie said while the right to protest is protected, “the level of violence and destruction is unacceptable and detrimental to the university’s reputation and the students’ education”.

The committee expressed concern that management has allegedly suspended elected student leaders and replaced them with appointed representatives, further fuelling tensions.

Students are reportedly demanding that the university hold Student Representative Council (SRC) elections by the end of October and are calling for the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu.

“The University of Fort Hare, as a historically disadvantaged institution, cannot afford continued instability,” Letsie warned.

“We urge management to engage meaningfully with student leaders to address the root causes of the unrest and ensure that the academic year is not further compromised.”

INSIDE EDUCATION