By Charmaine Ndlela

As more than 900,000 full- and part-time candidates prepare to sit for the start of the 2025 final exams on Tuesday, educators and psychologists are urging learners to stay calm, plan ahead, and protect their mental health.

Experts say the key to coping with exam stress lies in balance, preparation, and self-care – including regular breaks, healthy sleep, and realistic study schedules. Avoiding last-minute cramming, focusing on what you know, and setting achievable daily goals can make a major difference in performance.

To help learners manage anxiety, the South African College of Applied Psychology (SACAP) in August launched its 42-minute Matric Study Hacks Webinar, an interactive session offering science-backed techniques and practical tools to improve focus and reduce panic. The initiative preceded the global commemoration of World Mental Health Day on 10 October under the theme Together for Mental Health.

SACAP said that coping with exam stress is really about balance, preparation, and self-care.

Youth mentor Kagiso Kgomane, founder of For The Youth By The Youth, encouraged the Class of 2025 to see exams as part of a larger journey.

“As you enter this final stretch of your high school journey, I want to remind you that this year is not just about exams – it’s about perseverance, self-belief, and laying the foundation for the future you want.

“We believe in the power of young people to change the world. Your voice, your choices, and your dreams matter. No matter where you come from, your future is still yours to shape.”

He said grade 12 pupils should ask for help when they need it and support each other. “Whether you pass with distinctions or face challenges along the way, what matters is that you keep moving forward. We believe in you, now it’s time for you to believe in yourself.”

High-school teacher Asemahle Cwayela advised learners to focus on what they understand rather than cramming or stressing about what they can’t remember.

She said that while some learners might struggle with coping mechanisms, it was important to remain calm and focused. She encouraged learners to approach exams with a goal in mind, to use the material provided by teachers, and to trust their preparation.

Cwayela also cautioned against sharing last-minute notes with classmates, saying this often creates panic and self-doubt instead of confidence.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has called on the province’s matriculants to disconnect from social media until the conclusion of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, saying it poses a serious risk to their emotional well-being and academic focus.

Speaking at the 2025 Grade 12 NSC pledge signing ceremony at Hoërskool Vorentoe in Johannesburg, Chiloane urged learners to exercise discipline and resist online distractions.

“I urge you to disconnect from social media during this critical period. These platforms, which can be wonderful tools for connection, too often become breeding grounds for anxiety, false information, and cyberbullying during exam time. I am not asking you, I am instructing you: stay off social media during your examinations. Your emotional well-being depends on it,” he said.

The MEC’s warning came as over 192,000 candidates across Gauteng took part in pledge signing ceremonies held at 1,040 examination centres, at which the committed to honesty and integrity ahead of the final exams.

At Hoërskool Vorentoe, where 221 candidates joined 169 learners from neighbouring Westbury Secondary School, Chiloane reminded the Class of 2025 that their educational journey was bound by a unique sense of destiny and shared purpose.

“In 2013, two significant events occurred. First, the Council of Education Ministers established this pledge requirement. Secondly, you, the Class of 2025, entered Grade 1, beginning a journey that brings you here today. Somehow, it is as if destiny aligned your educational path with this commitment to integrity,” he said.

The MEC praised the cohort for demonstrating resilience and adaptability through years of disruptions and change.

“Class of 2025, you carry a special distinction. As the 18th cohort to write the NSC examinations, you have navigated unprecedented challenges. You adapted to online learning, returned to modified classrooms, and still managed to master not just traditional subjects but new offerings like technical mathematics and sign language. Your resilience has already been tested and proven,” Chiloane said.

He emphasised that the NSC examination was a defining national milestone that could unlock future opportunities.

Chiloane reiterated the department’s zero-tolerance stance on exam irregularities, warning candidates that any form of cheating or misconduct would be met with serious consequences.

“No cellphones or watches in examination rooms, not in your pocket, not in your bag, nowhere. No disruptive behaviour. No unauthorised materials or devices. No giving or receiving assistance. No writing on behalf of another candidate,” he cautioned.

He further called on learners to play an active role in safeguarding the credibility of the exams by reporting wrongdoing.

The MEC also commended teachers, parents, school governing bodies, and community and religious leaders for supporting learners through their educational journey.

He said the collaboration between schools and communities demonstrated the power of collective effort in nurturing academic excellence.

“Be the cohort remembered not only for the highest pass rate, but for the highest integrity rate. Be the generation that made cheating obsolete. I want a 100% pass rate from you,” he said.

The 2025 NSC examinations will begin on Tuesday.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Lebone Rodah Mosima 

Anti-illegal immigrant group Operation Dudula has said it will not disrupt final matric exams, which start on Tuesday and run until the end November. 

But National Executive Committee member Thami Madondo told Inside Education that the group will continue its campaign to prevent the enrolment of undocumented foreign children at township schools, starting in January 2026. 

Earlier this month, Operation Dudula members visited a handful of schools in Soweto, saying that local children should be prioritised over foreign children. 

The schools were given “warning letters” saying the same, and “reminding” them of the status of foreign children under the BELA Act. 

“No foreign child should be accepted at [public] schools,” Madondo told Inside Education. 

He justified the school campaign under sections 32, 42 and 44 of the Immigration Act. 

Under Section 32, any person who is in the country illegally is required to leave the Republic unless the Director-General of Home Affairs has formally authorised them, in the prescribed manner, to remain while they apply for legal status. 

If an illegal foreigner fails to leave, an immigration officer may arrest, detain, or deport the person without the need for a warrant, provided it is done in accordance with the Act’s procedures and within prescribed time limits.

Section 42 of the same Act makes it an offence to knowingly assist, enable, or conceal an illegal foreigner, or to aid a foreigner in conduct that violates their visa or permit conditions, except when the assistance is necessary for humanitarian reasons.

These provisions apply only to individuals who have no legal status under the Act. They do not extend to asylum seekers or refugees whose applications are recognised under the Refugees Act, nor to documented foreign nationals who are lawfully in South Africa.

Madondo said the Immigration Act does “not exclude minors”. 

“[Illegal foreigners] should not be in the country in the first place,” he said.

Last week, the group accused basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube of breaching the Immigration Act by promoting the inclusion of illegal foreign nationals in public schools.

Operation Dudula’s claims came after a post on X (formerly Twitter) by the department, where it said it had “noted with concern information being circulated on social media about public school requirements,” and that under “the South African Schools Act (SASA), amended by the BELA Act of 2024, no child may be denied access to education because of missing documents”.

“All public schools are required to admit learners and provide education without unfair discrimination of any kind,” the department said. 

The department in the same post urged parents to verify school admission requirements through official department of education channels for South African nationals as well as foreign nationals, alerting them to stay informed and help stop the spread of fake news. 

But Madondo dismissed this, saying that Gwarube was breaching the Immigration Act, which places a legal obligation on government departments to report illegal foreigners to the Department of Home Affairs. 

Gwarube was also breaching the BELA Act, he said. 

“Even the BELA act itself specifies requirements that need to be followed in registering children of illegal immigrants in our public schools, including children who are South African born but don’t have IDs,” he said. 

He said the Immigration Act makes it “compulsory” for foreign learners to have the necessary documents, and for the law to be implemented.  

The Immigration Act, he said, was being violated by the entire South African government. 

The South African Constitution guarantees the rights of all children, irrespective of their nationality or immigration status, stating in Section 28 that the best interests of the child “are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child”. 

The landmark 2019 Phakamisa Judgment also confirmed that undocumented learners must not be denied access to schools and education because of their status. 

But Madondo said various sections of the Constitution and the Acts were “misplaced” and “misused” or even deliberately “misinterpreted”. All of the country’s laws should be upheld, he said. 

“We are basically talking about these things daily because it’s not one section of the Constitution, and it’s not one section of the Immigration Act that has been violated,” he said.

He said that the Department of Home Affairs, in particular, has misinterpreted and misrepresented the Immigration Act and the Constitution. 

Operation Dudula has not confined its “activism” to schools. 

It has, together with anti-foreigner group March for March, previously also blocked access of undocumented foreign nationals to public health facilities in Johannesburg and Durban. 

Section 27 of the Constitution guarantees all individuals in the country access to healthcare, irrespective of their nationality or nation of birth. 

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Charmaine Ndlela

Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube and higher education minister Buti Manamela will on 23 October officially launch the latest Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) results.

TALIS is a large-scale international survey led by the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD). It gathers detailed self-reported data from teachers and school leaders on their working conditions, teaching practices, and learning environments, which can be used in formulating policy.

The latest results were released earlier this month. Among the findings were that in South Africa, 63 % of lower-secondary teachers “agree” or “strongly agree” that the teaching profession is valued in society, compared with an OECD-average of 22 %. South African teachers also reported a heavy administrative burden, with the most common sources of stress including excessive marking (72 %), being held responsible for student achievement (70 %) and too much administrative work (66 %).

South Africa participated in the TALIS survey for the first time in 2018, and was the only African country to submit information on its schooling system at that time. Morocco joined in submitting data for the 2024 survey.

For the latest survey in South Africa, data was collected from 2 046 teachers at 169 schools across all provinces.

TALIS sampled about 280 000 teachers from 17 000 schools across 55 education systems worldwide.

The launch of the survey will be the culmination of the fourth G20 Education Working Group (EdWG) meeting that will take place on 20 and 21 October.

According to both departments, the EdWG will “bring together global education leaders to advance collaboration on key priorities shaping the future of learning”.

The Department of Basic Education said that discussions will centre on “quality foundation learning through strengthening Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) to improve learning outcome; mutual recognition of qualifications to promote global mobility, and alignment of skills and education professional development to empower teachers and leaders to adapt to the evolving world of work and innovation”.

UNESCO’s 2024 Global Report on Teachers found there was a critical shortage of teachers, with 44 million needed by 2030 in order for universal primary and secondary education to be advanced.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Levy Masiteng

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has said that long-delayed subsidies to special schools will finally be paid on Monday, with affected institutions expected to receive the funds by Thursday.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the department attributed the delay to unforeseen technical glitches that disrupted its payment processing system.

According to the department’s 2025/2026 budget vote speech, there are 77 public special needs schools in the province, in which 22 077 learners are enrolled.

“The Department acknowledges the vital role that special schools play in providing quality education and essential support to learners with special needs. We extend our sincere apologies for the inconvenience and distress caused by the delayed payments,” the statement said.

Several special schools in the province were forced to close due to the department’s repeated failure to pay subsidies on time, including Truro Prevocational School in Chatsworth, which has officially closed due to insolvency, and Pro Nobis School for learners with special needs in Dundee, which is on the brink of closure after months of delayed payments.

As previously reported by Inside Education, the schools have been struggling to pay staff and cover essential expenses such as electricity, security, transport and insurance.

This week, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal released a statement calling on Premier Thami Ntuli and Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka to urgently address the funding crisis.

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

Said Hlomuka in the department’s statement: “We value the dedication of special schools and their staff, and we appreciate their patience, understanding, and cooperation as we work to resolve this matter.”

INSIDE EDUCATION

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 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 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 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