By Johnathan Paoli
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has declared the province fully ready to administer the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations and to begin placing learners for the 2026 academic year.
Speaking ahead of the exam season, Chiloane said the department’s preparations were “complete and credible”, with all 1,040 examination centres audited, compliant, and staffed with trained invigilators and monitors.
“Our systems are ready, our officials are prepared, and our learners have been supported through every possible intervention. We are confident that Gauteng will once again deliver credible results that reflect the hard work of our teachers and learners,” Chiloane said.
The NSC exams will begin next week Tuesday, and conclude on 27 November.
This year, a total of 192,745 candidates have registered to write, 144,246 full-time and 48,499 part-time, marking a six percent increase in full-time enrolments compared to 2024.
Chiloane said the rise reflected growing confidence in the public schooling system and a commitment to ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to complete their basic education.
The MEC praised the Class of 2024 for achieving an 88.41 percent pass rate, with 66,979 bachelor passes, the province’s highest number since 1996, and expressed confidence that this year’s cohort would go even further.
“We have set ourselves a target of reaching a 90 percent pass rate, and preliminary assessments show that we are on course. The Class of 2025 has shown resilience and discipline, and we believe they will rise to the occasion,” he said.
Chiloane attributed the province’s continued academic improvement to a mix of targeted support programmes and innovative digital learning platforms. Initiatives such as the Secondary School Improvement Programme (SSIP), High Flyer interventions, and live broadcast lessons have provided learners with extensive academic support.
“Through these programmes, we ensure that no learner is left behind, especially those in underperforming schools and communities facing service delivery challenges,” he said.
He noted that the department would continue to offer daily revision sessions under the Just-in-Time programme during the examination period to help learners consolidate their knowledge before each paper.
Turning to exam integrity, Chiloane said additional chief invigilators and monitors had been deployed to large examination centres, while new security mechanisms were in place to prevent irregularities, including paper leaks.
He urged candidates to arrive early at their centres, follow all screening procedures, and avoid bringing prohibited items such as cellphones or smartwatches into exam rooms.
“Cheating is not only unethical, it can destroy your future. Learners found guilty of dishonesty face having their results nullified and being barred from writing for up to three years,” he warned.
All candidates will sign the NSC Pledge next week Friday, committing themselves to the Examination Code of Conduct.
Chiloane also appealed to parents and communities to create a peaceful environment for learners during this period.
“We urge parents to provide emotional support and to ensure learners have quiet spaces to study. Communities must avoid protests or disruptions near schools, as even a single missed paper can set a learner back an entire year,” he said.
The marking process will take place between 16 November and 12 December, with the national release of results set for 12 January 2026 and the provincial release the following day.
Learners will be able to collect their statements of results from their schools on 13 January.
Chiloane reminded learners who missed the Life Orientation Common Assessment Task in September to attend the rewrite scheduled for 14 October, warning that those who do not complete it this year will only qualify to write again in September 2026.
The MEC also confirmed that the department is ready to begin the placement phase for the 2026 online admissions cycle on Thursday, 16 October.
During the application period between 24 July and 29 August, the GDE received more than 820,000 applications from over 358,000 unique users.
Chiloane explained that placement offers would be issued via SMS on a rolling basis from 16 October and urged parents to accept offers within seven school days to avoid losing their preferred placements.
He emphasised that placement decisions are guided by proximity and family connections to schools rather than the order in which applications were submitted.
To accommodate high demand, the department has deployed 786 mobile classrooms to 223 schools across the province, particularly in high-pressure areas such as Johannesburg South, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.
He encouraged parents to resolve any placement disputes through the established objection and appeal processes, which the department has pledged to handle within prescribed timeframes.
Chiloane ended with declaring his department’s confidence and pride as the province enters this critical period for both examinations and admissions, calling on the class of 2025 to stay focused, disciplined and believing in their potential.
INSIDE EDUCATION
