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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