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.
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