Uncategorized
By Palesa Nguqu and Simon Nare
South Africa is gearing up for one of its largest exam operations as more than 900,000 candidates prepare to sit the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations on Tuesday.
Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube has described the national exam operation as one of “the largest and most complex public assessment outside of national elections.”
Speaking at a ministerial media briefing in Pretoria, Gwarube said the Department of Basic Education (DBE) was confident in its readiness.
The matric exams are set to start on Tuesday morning and are expected to end on November 27 2025.
“The systems are securely in place, the security measures are sound, the educators are prepared, and our learners are ready,” she told dozens of reporters.
According to Gwarube, 903,561 candidates will write the exams — 766,543 full-time learners and 137,018 part-time candidates — marking the highest number since the democratic exam system was established in 1996.
“This year, we have over 766 000 candidates who have registered as full-time candidates. This is the highest number since the public exams started in 1996. We also have just over 137 000 part-time candidates. In total, we have over 900 000 candidates who will sit for the 2025 National Senior Certificate Matric Exams,” said Gwarube.
“We wish the class of 2025 well for the exams.”
To ensure inclusivity, the department has finalized examination versions modified for Braille, large print, and South African Sign Language.
A total of 6,955 examination centers across the country — including 6,396 public schools and 579 independent schools — have been approved to host the exams.
To strengthen oversight, 57 national monitors and thousands of provincial officials have been deployed to ensure compliance and security.
Gwarube stressed that the integrity of the exams remains non-negotiable, with every stage — from paper setting to marking — undergoing multiple layers of verification.
“Let us all rally behind our matriculants, lighting their path with encouragement, discipline, and love, so that when results are released on January 12, 2026, they reflect not only academic achievement but the enduring strength, unity, and possibility of our education system,” the Minister said.
According to the department, over 130,000 learners participated in intensive Autumn, Winter, and Spring revision camps held at 665 centers, focusing on critical gateway subjects such as Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Geography, with attendance levels exceeding 80%. Learners also received Mind the Gap guides, literature study packs, self-study kits, and digital resources to aid preparation.
Marking preparations are already in progress, with 185 marking centers and more than 40,000 trained officials, including markers, invigilators, and moderators.
Marking is scheduled to begin on December 2, 2025, following staggered staff arrivals from November 27 to December 1.
Meanwhile, Umalusi — the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training — has confirmed its readiness to oversee the process, saying measures are in place to protect the integrity and security of the examinations, including training personnel and monitoring high-risk centers nationwide.
In a one-on-one interview with Inside Education, Gwarube said the department had employed robust measures to ensure the final examinations proceed smoothly and securely.
“Printing, packaging, and distribution security protocols have been tested and tightened, markers are being trained, and the examination centres have been verified. Our focus is to guarantee that every learner is afforded a fair, credible, and smooth examination process,” said Gwarube.
She added that the department was fully prepared to administer the exams and would continue working closely with provinces, districts, and schools to maintain stability and oversight throughout the examination period.
When asked about performance expectations, Gwarube said the department was not anticipating a decline in the pass rate but was instead optimistic about an improved overall outcome.
“This confidence is based on the intensive interventions made throughout their schooling years, and from extra tuition in matric, including winter and autumn camps and weekend classes to enhance teacher support and curriculum recovery initiatives. Our ambition is to improve the quality of education so that more young people can access universities, TVET colleges, and the world of work,” she said.
The department, she noted, had widely circulated exam preparation materials to ensure that learners remain on track and aligned with the examination programme.
Addressing concerns over exam paper leaks, Gwarube revealed that a forensic investigation firm had been appointed to trace the source of last year’s leaks and prevent similar incidents this year.
“Preliminary information shows that the leak did not originate from the Department of Education, and our systems remain secure. We are comfortable that there will be no leaks from the department,” she said.
Gwarube acknowledged that 2025 had come with its share of challenges but assured the nation that the department had identified and mitigated recurring risks.
“Firstly, the issue of school safety, particularly criminal activity around schools and intimidation in some hot spot communities, continues to concern us. We are addressing this through our ongoing collaboration with the South African Police Service,” she said.
The minister also highlighted the psychosocial well-being of learners as a key focus area, saying that expanded learner support programmes and counselling services were being prioritised.
“The psychosocial well-being of learners is something we are prioritising; we have expanded learner support programmes and counselling to ensure that matriculants are emotionally and mentally ready to sit for the exams,” Gwarube said.
INSIDE EDUCATION