By Levy Masiteng
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has warned nearly one million Grade 12 learners against cheating in their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, saying dishonesty undermines the credibility of their qualifications.
Speaking at the nationwide NSC Examination Pledge Signing Ceremony on Friday, Gwarube urged the Class of 2026 to uphold honesty and integrity as they prepare for examinations, which begin on 13 October and end on 26 November.
“There are no shortcuts to success,” she said, warning learners against using leaked examination papers, copying others’ work or possessing unauthorised electronic devices.
“A cellphone hidden in a pocket is not preparation. A leaked question paper is not intelligence. Copying another learner’s work is not achievement. The National Senior Certificate must remain a qualification that South Africans can trust because it is earned honestly,” she said.
The pledge-signing ceremony took place at public schools across all nine provinces.
Independent schools whose learners write the state NSC examinations were also encouraged to participate.
Gwarube urged learners experiencing anxiety or difficulties with their preparations to seek support from their teachers and schools rather than resort to examination irregularities.
“Impilo ayakhiwa ngobuqhetseba. Yakhiwa ngokusebenza nzima, ngokuzimisela nangentembeko,” she said, meaning that life is not built through dishonesty, but through hard work, determination and integrity.
The Department of Basic Education reiterated that cheating, collusion, possession of unauthorised materials or electronic devices, impersonation, disruption and other examination irregularities would not be tolerated.
Learners were also urged to report suspected wrongdoing through the appropriate channels.
“Any information about an examination question paper that has not yet been written must immediately be reported to the relevant teacher or school principal,” the department said.
Deputy Basic Education Minister Reginah Mhaule joined Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane Maile at Riverside High School, where they signed the pledge alongside Grade 12 learners.
Mhaule said the pledge represented more than a commitment to follow examination rules, describing it as a promise of personal accountability and academic integrity.
“Today, our learners are making a commitment not only to the examination system, but to themselves and the futures they are working to build,” she said.
“The true value of the National Senior Certificate lies in the knowledge, discipline and integrity behind every result. We want every learner to succeed, but that success must be earned honestly.”
The department said the initiative formed part of preparations to ensure learners understood examination rules and procedures before the start of the NSC examinations.
It added that protecting the credibility of the examinations was a shared responsibility involving teachers, invigilators, examination officials, parents and communities.
In KwaZulu-Natal, Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka presided over the provincial NSC Examination Pledge Signing and Prayer Ceremony at Vukuzakhe High School in uMlazi on Friday.
Hosted by the uMlazi District on behalf of the province, the ceremony saw learners commit to writing their examinations honestly and earning their results through hard work.
“The journey to secure the future of the Class of 2026 begins,” the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education said.
Hlomuka urged matriculants to uphold honesty, discipline and integrity, while calling on parents, teachers and communities to support learners during the examination period.
The provincial ceremony also encouraged high schools across KwaZulu-Natal to hold their own pledge-signing activities to reinforce a collective commitment to fair and credible examinations.
Education departments have urged candidates to remain focused, follow examination rules and ensure their results reflect their own knowledge and effort.
“You have worked for this moment. Trust yourselves. Trust your preparation. Trust the work you have put in throughout the year. When you enter that examination room, enter with your preparation, your knowledge and your integrity. Nothing more is required,” Gwarube said.
INSIDE EDUCATION
