By Johnathan Paoli

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has called upon the Class of 2025 to approach their final examinations with honesty, integrity, and accountability.

Leading the National Senior Certificate (NSC) pledge signing ceremony at Harry Gwala High School in Makhaza, Khayelitsha, on Friday morning, Gwarube welcomed learners, educators, parents, and community members, saying the event was a final symbolic step before matric candidates begin their NSC examinations this month.

“To the matric candidates across the country, as you take the pledge today, remember that you are not just promising to be honest in your exams, you are promising to be honest in all that you do in life. May you go forward with pride, and may your efforts shine as brightly as your dreams,” she said.

Gwarube said the pledge was not a mere formality but a collective act of protecting learners’ futures, the credibility of the NSC examinations, and the integrity of South Africa’s education system.

The NSC pledge, introduced in 2011, requires all Grade 12 candidates to publicly commit to ethical conduct during their examinations.

It is intended to curb irregularities such as cheating, impersonation, and the sharing of exam content on social media.

Gwarube praised the resilience of the Class of 2025, acknowledging the challenges they faced over twelve years of schooling, particularly in a period marked by economic and social instability.

She urged learners to recognise that their achievements were not only individual but also communal.

“When you walk into that examination room, you carry the hopes of your teachers, your families, and your communities. Your success is a reflection of their effort as much as your own,” she said.

The minister linked the theme of integrity to the broader transformation goals of the basic education sector, saying that education must shape both intellect and character.

Gwarube said honesty and fairness were essential for the kind of society South Africa hopes to build, adding that the department’s focus extended beyond academic achievement to cultivating learners who embody empathy, respect, and responsibility, qualities that will define the future of the continent.

She encouraged learners to approach their exams with pride, confidence and self-belief, reminding them that their future success must be earned.

Gwarube also thanked teachers and parents for their continued dedication.

The NSC examinations will officially begin on 21 October, with more than 740,000 full-time and part-time candidates expected to sit for the national papers.

The department said that stringent measures remain in place to safeguard exam integrity, including electronic surveillance, improved question paper tracking, and closer collaboration with law enforcement agencies.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

Build One South Africa (BOSA) has sounded the alarm ahead of next week’s matric exams, warning that thousands of learners will be “robbed of opportunity” as nearly 500 public schools across the country still do not offer mathematics, a subject the party calls essential for South Africa’s future workforce and innovation prospects.

The warning comes just days before the Class of 2025 begins writing their National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams on Monday.

In a statement on Thursday, BOSA spokesperson Roger Solomons said the latest data, disclosed by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, confirms that 476 public schools do not offer mathematics, effectively locking thousands of pupils out of career pathways in science, technology, engineering and commerce.

The minister’s written reply to parliament further revealed that 873 schools do not offer physical science, 1 534 do not offer accounting, 1 503 do not offer business studies, and 1 925 do not offer economics.

“This is a national crisis that exposes the deep inequities in our education system,” Solomons said.

“Without access to these subjects, learners are being set up to fail before they even begin. It’s a form of academic exclusion that limits their future and undermines the country’s potential to compete in the modern economy.”

The figures mirror concerns raised earlier this year in parliament, when MPs reacted with outrage to a departmental report showing that 462 public high schools had no mathematics classes.

As reported in May by Inside Education, the basic education department told the portfolio committee that most of these schools were small, under-resourced, or located in rural areas where low enrolment made it “impossible to offer both mathematics and mathematical literacy”.

KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and Limpopo were identified as the most affected provinces.

At the time, the department’s director-general, Mathanzima Mweli, acknowledged that the problem was structural, citing “migration patterns and low enrolment” that led to teacher shortages and limited subject offerings.

Gwarube described the situation as “deeply concerning,” promising parliament that her department would deliver a full list of affected schools and accelerate interventions such as scholar transport and school mergers.

Despite these assurances, BOSA said that the issue remains unresolved, and has in fact worsened.

“This crisis has persisted for years, and learners in rural and township schools continue to be denied the same educational choices as their peers in better-resourced areas,” Solomons said.

“We cannot talk about equality or transformation when half the country’s children don’t even have the option to study mathematics.”

Education experts and government officials have repeatedly stressed the central role of mathematics in South Africa’s development.

At the Mega Maths Festival held at the University of the Western Cape earlier this year, Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane described mathematics as “the invisible engine powering visible progress,” calling for renewed investment in maths education and teacher training.

“Mathematics is a gateway to many professions, from artificial intelligence to energy, finance, and data science,” Nkabane said at the conference.

“We must reverse the upsurge in mathematical literacy, which we know does not assist in tertiary education enrolments in STEM fields.”

In its statement, BOSA said the shortage of qualified teachers, outdated infrastructure, and poor accountability systems have compounded the crisis.

The party announced that it will table detailed proposals before the newly established National Education and Training Council (NTEC) aimed at transforming the education system and addressing long-standing inequalities.

Among its key recommendations, BOSA is calling for the scrapping of the 30% matric pass mark, which it argues “entrenches mediocrity” and lowers academic standards. The party also wants the establishment of an independent education ombudsman to ensure accountability where schools and officials fail learners.

In addition, BOSA is pushing for improved teacher salaries and recruitment efforts to attract and retain qualified professionals, the introduction of a school voucher system to give parents the freedom to choose better-performing schools, and a nationwide teacher skills audit to ensure educators are properly aligned with the subjects they teach.

“For South Africa to thrive in the 21st century, every child — regardless of their postal code — must have access to the subjects that underpin innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth,” Solomons said.

“We owe it to our children to fix this broken system.”

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Charmaine Ndlela

The University of the Free State (UFS) has confirmed that from 1 January 2026, all students will fall under a fully registered system, bringing an end to the longstanding practice of provisional registration that has allowed students with outstanding fees to register conditionally.

The decision follows weeks of tense protests across UFS’s Bloemfontein, Qwaqwa, and South campuses, after the university council’s 26 September resolution to phase out provisional registration sparked backlash from students.

Following negotiations between the UFS Executive Committee (Exco), Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC), and campus SRCs on 15 October 2025, the parties reached an agreement to phase out provisional registration over two years (2026–2027).

On 14 October, UFS suspended all on-campus academic activities following a week of student protests. The Qwaqwa campus was ordered closed immediately after incidents of vandalism, arson, and assaults on security personnel.

According to the university, an average 8% of students were provisionally registered.

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between management and student leaders includes:

● Phased out provincial Registration over a period of two years.

● Staggered concession of 70 000 (year one), 60 000 (year two)

● All UFS registered students to have access to their official academic records.

All students funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) will continue to be registered in full.

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela said he is in direct contact with the vice-chancellor and that the focus of their discussions “is ensuring the preservation of the 2025 academic year”.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Levy Masiteng

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has called on Premier Thami Ntuli and Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka to urgently address the funding crisis affecting the province’s special needs schools.

In a statement on Wednesday, Sakhile Mngadi, the DA’s spokesperson on Education, said several schools had been forced to close due to the provincial Department of Education’s repeated failure to pay subsidies on time.

Mngadi urged the Premier and MEC to immediately release overdue subsidies and provide emergency financial support for schools struggling to stay afloat.

“Accountability must be taken by officials responsible for this neglect,” he added.

Two schools have been hit particularly hard: Truro Prevocational School in Chatsworth, which has closed due to insolvency, and Pro Nobis School for Learners with Special Needs in Dundee, which faces imminent closure after months of delayed payments.

“These schools are struggling to pay staff and cover essential expenses such as electricity, security, and insurance,” Mngadi said.

“This is not an administrative oversight – it is a violation of the rights and dignity of KZN’s most vulnerable learners,” he said.

The DA noted that repeated appeals from school governing bodies and associations to the Department of Education have gone unheeded, with reports showing that the funding crisis in KZN schools is a recurring problem.

Last week, the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA) highlighted concerns over the deepening financial crisis faced by the KZN Education Department.

Earlier this year, the DA also called on the Gauteng Department of Education to account for unpaid school power bills, which had led to power cuts and disrupted learning.

At the start of 2025, the DA, together with teacher unions including the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) and NAPTOSA, warned that the R900 million pledged by the provincial government to address the funding crisis was insufficient.

“While this is a step in the right direction, it falls far short of what is needed. The Department of Education still has unpaid accruals, and hundreds of schools across the province continue to struggle due to months of delayed payments,” Mngadi said, noting that an additional R700 million is required to resolve all outstanding issues.

“The DA will continue to fight for every learner’s right to quality education and dignity, particularly those whose voices are the hardest to hear,” he said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Levy Masiteng

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has said that a total of 195 899 learners – 179 751 full-time and 16 148 part-time candidates – will sit for their final exams at various examination centres throughout the province.

The number is a 3% increase on the 190 452 candidates who wrote exams in 2024.

According to KZN Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka, the province is also “fully prepared” to start the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

“Our provincial vision remains clear: every learner who sits for the final examination must pass. We know that external factors sometimes make a 100% pass rate difficult, but we are determined not to fall below 95%,” he added.

The department said it has prioritised exam integrity and credibility by conducting advocacy and training sessions for chief invigilators and invigilators, and that additional monitors had also been employed to safeguard the exam process.

The province runs the largest examination system in South Africa, supported by 6 450 invigilators overseeing 6 712 examination rooms across 1 705 public centres, and 61 private examination centres.

According to the department, examination materials will be distributed through 13 storage points and 103 distribution and collection centres. KwaZulu-Natal will print 113 question papers, totalling 35 192 785 printouts, to be written across 27 morning and 27 afternoon sessions.

“The department is pleased to confirm that all arrangements are in place to ensure that examination markers and all related personnel are paid on time,” Hlomuka said.

“We began the 2025 academic year buoyed by the outstanding results of the Class of 2024. While we celebrated those achievements, we recognised that our real challenge lay ahead — to surpass our own success.

“We therefore developed a 2025 Academic Improvement Plan, aimed at improving our pass rate from 89.5% to a minimum of 95%, with the ultimate goal of reaching 100%.

“All twelve districts crafted district-specific improvement plans aligned to the provincial strategy. We immediately set these plans into motion to ensure that implementation was felt across all schools,” said the MEC.

The Winter Tuition Programme, which ran from 27 June to 21 July 2025, focused on intensive learner preparation and curriculum completion before the end of August. It provided learners with opportunities to revise past examination papers, introduced effective study techniques, and familiarised pupils with NSC-style questioning.

According to the department, schools were grouped by performance levels to identify and address common challenges more effectively. A hybrid model was adopted, combining overnight learner camps, cluster-based walk-in centres, and school-based sessions to ensure inWflexibility and inclusivity for all participating schools.

More than 4,380 learners took part in the winter camps, which provided a structured and supportive environment for academic enrichment.

The department then launched its Spring Boot Camps from 5 to 12 October across all districts. The week-long camps targeted key and challenging subject areas, offering focused revision and personalised support. Another 4 380 learners benefited from the spring initiative, which sought to consolidate knowledge and boost confidence ahead of the final examinations, said the department.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

The President of the University of Fort Hare Convocation, Ayabulela Pezisa, has accused vice-chancellor (VC) Professor Sakhela Buhlungu of neglecting alumni structures and perpetuating a culture of exclusion at the historic institution, calling for his immediate departure and a full investigation into governance failures.

He also said the institution was in need of a young VC, who would restore integrity and love for the university.

Speaking to Inside Education, Pezisa said the convocation had repeatedly been sidelined by university management, even as tensions between students and the administration intensified in recent weeks.

He claimed that the convocation, which represents the interests of graduates and alumni, has been deliberately denied opportunities to intervene and mediate in the ongoing crisis at the university.

“When we saw that there is a problem in the institution, we requested an urgent meeting with management so that we could help calm the situation,” Pezisa said.

“That opportunity was neglected. They ignored us. This is not the first time the management has sidelined the convocation.”

Pezisa said that despite escalating the matter to the interim chair of the university council, their pleas for engagement went unanswered.

“When we speak about a protest, we are speaking about something that requires urgent action, not silence,” he added.

In a statement issued on Monday evening, the convocation expressed deep concern over what it described as a “governance and leadership crisis engulfing the institution”.

The statement follows a visit by parliament committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie and a recent briefing by Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela, who highlighted serious governance shortcomings, administrative irregularities, and persistent instability at Fort Hare.

“We welcome the Minister’s acknowledgment of the governance and management failures that have contributed to the current instability and support the call for urgent corrective intervention,” the statement read.

“However, such intervention must go beyond crisis management and address the root causes of systemic failure at UFH.”

The convocation cited several concerns, including poor accountability, lack of transparent decision-making, and the exclusion of statutory bodies such as the convocation and the Student Representative Council (SRC) from governance processes.

The convocation reiterated Pezisa’s earlier claim that key decisions, such as the vice-chancellor’s post-retirement contract, the appointment of executive directors, and student affairs matters, were taken without consultation or adherence to governance principles.

“Why was the Vice-Chancellor’s post-retirement contract extended by 16 months when the terms of reference clearly state 12 months? They say they are waiting for a legal opinion, but that’s unnecessary. It’s simply poor governance,” Pezisa asserted.

He further accused Buhlungu of being “arrogant and detached” from the Fort Hare community, claiming that his leadership style has eroded trust and unity at the university.

“The Vice-chancellor does not have love for the University of Fort Hare. He is here to destroy what was built before him,” Pezisa said.

“He must leave us alone so that we can rebuild and protect what this university stands for.”

Pezisa became emphatic in his call for the VC’s removal, repeating that “he must leave” and insisting that his continued presence was divisive.

“He must leave. He must not go, he must leave,” Pezisa said firmly, drawing a sharp line between resignation and removal.

“We don’t believe in the allegations alone, but we believe in what we see, under his leadership, corruption and maladministration have taken place. He worked, yes, but now it is time for him to go.”

Pezisa claimed that under Buhlungu’s watch, key officials implicated in corruption were appointed, including former Director of Investigations and Security Isaac Plaatjies and Human Resources head Dr Paul Tladi, both of whom have faced serious allegations.

“That’s why we are saying he is tired, he must leave,” Pezisa said. “A young vice-chancellor is needed to take Fort Hare forward.”

Citing Section 44 of the Higher Education Act, the convocation called on Manamela to appoint an independent assessor to investigate the state of governance, management, and financial administration at Fort Hare.

The proposed probe, according to the Convocation, would focus on assessing the functionality and effectiveness of the university council and executive management, the transparency of financial and procurement processes, and the management of student governance structures, including financial aid and accommodation systems.

It would also investigate the exclusion of key statutory stakeholders such as the convocation and SRC from decision-making, as well as evaluate the overall institutional culture and how it affects academic stability and integrity.

“The process must be independent, transparent, and time-bound,” the convocation said.

“Its findings should inform structural reform, including, where necessary, the reconstitution of council and a review of the vice-chancellor’s post-retirement contract.”

Pezisa and the convocation have also raised alarms over the exclusion of alumni from university affairs and the loss of critical archives following the fire that gutted the administration building in Alice.

“We have asked management whether the archives, including alumni and convocation records dating back to the first graduation in 1924, have been backed up, but they never gave us answers,” Pezisa said.

The statement added that the lack of access to alumni data has “crippled the convocation’s ability to engage with its members, mobilise support, and fulfil its constitutional mandate.”

While condemning the recent acts of vandalism and destruction of property during student unrest, the convocation said such incidents were “symptoms of deeper institutional dysfunction” rooted in failed leadership and a breakdown of trust.

“De-escalation cannot mean a return to the status quo,” the convocation said. “It must mark the beginning of genuine reform and inclusive governance.”

The convocation commended the intervention of the provincial leadership and parliament’s portfolio committee on higher education, whose chairperson, Letsie, visited both the East London and Alice campuses on Monday to collect a memorandum of student demands.

In addition, the statement outlined several urgent steps to restore order and accountability at the institution.

These include the appointment of an independent assessor under the Higher Education Act, the immediate restoration of stakeholder platforms to promote inclusive governance, the recovery and accessibility of alumni and convocation records to ensure full participation, and the implementation of governance reforms guided by the assessor’s recommendations.

Pezisa said that the university stands at a defining moment that demands courageous leadership and structural reform.

“Fort Hare needs new leadership, a young vice-chancellor who will restore integrity and love for this university,” he said.

“Until such reform is achieved, the convocation will continue to speak truth to power in defence of our alma mater and its proud legacy.”

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has pledged to restore stability at the embattled University of Fort Hare (UFH) and assured students that it will work toward a resolution with university management.

Tebogo Letsie, chairperson of the committee, made the commitment after receiving a memorandum of demands from students, following weeks of unrest and heightened tensions on campus.

Letsie visited UFH’s Dikeni (formerly Alice) and East London campuses on Monday afternoon to meet with student leaders and members of the university’s convocation. He said the committee would formally present the memorandum to university management and seek urgent responses to the issues raised.

The memorandum, submitted by student representatives, calls for the removal of the vice-chancellor, the dissolution of the university council, and the holding of Students’ Representative Council (SRC) elections by the end of October. Students are also demanding improvements in accommodation, campus transport, and safety measures—issues that have fueled unrest in recent months.

“We will write to the vice-chancellor and attach the memorandum as an annexure for them to respond to,” Letsie told students during the meeting.

“We will give them until Thursday to reply, and by Friday we should be able to respond to the students. When you don’t respond to students, it appears as if you are arrogant, so we will respond and show how far we can go on what they have asked.”

Letsie emphasised that many of the demands fall within the responsibilities of the university management and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), rather than Parliament. However, he assured students that the committee would facilitate accountability and engagement among all relevant stakeholders.

“If management fails to respond, we will escalate the matter,” he warned. “We can invoke Section 56 of the Constitution, which empowers Parliament to summon any information or institution in the public interest. We have lost buildings worth between R250 million and R500 million across campuses, and teaching and learning have been disrupted. We cannot allow this situation to continue.”

The visit comes after violent student protests left parts of both the Alice and East London campuses in ruins, prompting Parliament’s oversight committee to intervene. 

Letsie described the situation as “deeply concerning,” saying the university’s challenges reflect broader governance and communication failures within the higher education sector.

During the meeting, UFH Convocation Executive Committee President Ayabulela Pezisa said the convocation was working to mediate between management and students. 

“We are an important stakeholder at this university. Management must not distance itself from us. We want to help fix what affects both students and the institution,” Pezisa said.

Students, however, expressed frustration over what they described as management’s “arrogance” and unwillingness to engage meaningfully. 

“We have been here for days demanding that our issues be addressed. If our demands are not met by next week, we will stand together again,” one student leader said.

When asked whether he believed external parties were involved in the recent destruction of university property, Letsie refrained from speculation but called for a forensic investigation into the incidents.

“It would be reckless for me to have an opinion without evidence,” he said. 

“An investigation must determine who was responsible, whether it was students, management, security companies, or community members. Whoever is found guilty must be arrested because this is criminal behaviour that has cost government millions.”

The committee’s intervention marks a critical moment for the embattled institution, which has faced months of turmoil, including staff suspensions, student protests, and allegations of maladministration.

Letsie urged calm and dialogue, saying Parliament would monitor developments closely. 

“We hope management will respond positively so we don’t have to go the legal route. What’s important is to restore stability and ensure students can learn in a safe environment,” he said.

The committee is expected to brief Parliament later this week on the outcomes of its visit and management’s response to the students’ demands.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

Academic activities at the University of the Free State (UFS) have been brought to a standstill as students continue their protest against the university’s decision to scrap the provisional registration system from next year.

The shutdown, which began at the end of the weekend at the main Bloemfontein campus, has seen hundreds of students mobilising to block entrances and disrupt classes in what they describe as a “peaceful but determined” protest.

“This is not just a protest about registration; it’s a protest about survival. When the university closes doors to poor students, it closes doors to South Africa’s future,” Bloemfontein campus SRC president Ogorogile Moleme said.

Students have vowed to continue demonstrations until management reverses the policy, accusing the institution of abandoning its commitment to access and transformation.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high outside the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court, where six students appeared on charges of malicious damage to property and attempted arson, following a series of arrests over the past week.

The controversy stems from a September 26 council resolution ending the provisional registration system, a long-standing arrangement that allowed students to register and begin their studies while still finalising fee payments or awaiting bursary confirmations.

UFS spokesperson Lacea Loader confirmed the move, saying the council’s decision followed an extensive review.

“Students will need to be fully registered once their fees or funding have been confirmed. The university’s review found that provisional registration was not an effective mechanism to support students with financial challenges, as many failed to meet payment agreements,” she said.

She added that the university plans to roll out a new “student-centred financial support strategy”, including earlier bursary applications and improved financial advising.

“The UFS remains committed to supporting students through building a fair, equitable and sustainable support system that promotes access, success and responsible financial management,” Loader said.

However, student leaders argue that the decision will have devastating consequences for poor and working-class learners who rely on the flexibility of provisional registration to access higher education.

The council also accused management of failing to consult students before implementing such a consequential policy.

For many students, the issue has revived frustrations over unfulfilled promises of transformation nearly a decade after the #FeesMustFall movement.

A memorandum of demands submitted to UFS management on October 8 called for the reinstatement of provisional registration, the retention of the acknowledgment of debt system with a cap of R50,000, and permission for returning students awaiting funding to register without paying upfront.

It also demanded an end to what students describe as the “militarisation” of campuses through police deployment and arrests.

Police confirmed they had been deployed to all three UFS campuses; Bloemfontein, Qwaqwa and South, after memorandums were handed over.

Moleme said 11 students were arrested last Thursday, with nine later released on free bail and two on R500 bail.

Another six were detained early on Saturday morning.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The Department of Basic Education has officially released the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) October/November examination timetable.

The schedule outlines a six-week examination period, beginning with Computer Applications Technology (CAT) and Information Technology (IT) practicals, before progressing to core academic subjects such as languages, mathematics, physical sciences, business studies, and the arts.

The exams are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, 21 October, and will run until Thursday, 27 November.

More than 700 000 Grade 12 learners are preparing to sit for the final exams that mark the culmination of twelve years of hard work and perseverance.

The structure has been designed to ensure a balanced and fair national examination process, giving learners enough time between major subjects to revise and recover.

According to the department, preparations for the national exams are well underway, with all provinces having submitted readiness reports confirming the finalisation of invigilation rosters, venue security measures, and logistical arrangements for rural and urban centres alike.

Umalusi, the quality assurance body, has also given the green light for this year’s NSC cycle, describing it as a “well-planned, robust and inclusive assessment season”.

For most matriculants, this period will be consumed by revision sessions, mock exams, and last-minute consultation with teachers before the real test begins.

The first paper, Computer Applications Technology Paper 1, will set the tone for the six-week marathon that follows.

From there, the timetable flows into the major language exams, mathematics, physical sciences, business studies, geography, and life sciences, concluding with practical and technical subjects in the final week.

For the department, the matric exams are not only a measure of academic performance but also a test of the education system’s ability to deliver under pressure.

Each year, the department coordinates the printing, packaging, and secure delivery of millions of examination papers to thousands of centres across the country.

This year’s exam timetable also includes several key milestones outside the main examination window.

Life Orientation’s Common Assessment Task (CAT) took place in early September, followed by rewrites in mid-October.

Visual Arts, Design and Performing Arts practical assessments was conducted in August and October, while schools nationwide are expected to host the annual Pledge Signing Ceremony on 17 October, a symbolic commitment by candidates to uphold honesty and integrity during the exams.

INSIDE EDUCATION