By Lebone Rodah Mosima
Umalusi says approximately 1.08 million candidates have registered for the 2026 year-end national examinations, with the National Senior Certificate (NSC) accounting for the largest share at 989,141 candidates.
Umalusi chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Mafu Rakometsi said the candidates would write their examinations at 9,183 centres across four assessment bodies.
“All the centres have been profiled according to their risk levels from low, medium and high-risk centres. Resident monitors will be deployed to high-risk centres, supported by regular Umalusi monitoring,” he said.
Rakometsi was briefing the media on Thursday on Umalusi’s state of readiness ahead of the start of the matric examinations next week at the Thuto-Mfundo Building in Pretoria.
The matric examinations will run from October 13 to November 26, 2026.
He said Umalusi had confirmed the readiness of the Department of Basic Education (DBE), Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), Independent Examinations Board (IEB) and South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI) to conduct and administer the 2026 national examinations.
Umalusi itself, he said, was ready to quality assure the examination system during and after the examination period.
“Umalusi conducted its state-of-readiness audit from 24 August to 30 September 2026,” Rakometsi said.
The audit covered candidate registration, staffing at examination and marking centres, external moderation of internal assessments and question papers, security measures for the printing, packaging, storage and distribution of question papers, mark-capturing systems and structures for managing examination irregularities.
Umalusi externally moderated and approved 283 subject question papers across three qualifications and four assessment bodies, confirming their validity, fairness and reliability.
This included 151 NSC papers, 118 DHET papers and 40 General Education and Training Certificate: Adult Basic Education and Training (GETC: ABET) papers.
Rakometsi said although the DBE had reported marker shortages in Afrikaans Home Language, English Home Language and History, Umalusi was confident that the department’s plan to start marking early and phase the process would mitigate the risk.
He said the DHET was expected to finalise its marker appointments later this month, with Umalusi set to pronounce on the department’s marking capacity by October 19.
However, Umalusi raised concerns about recurring irregularities involving Integrated Summative Assessment Tasks (ISAT), Practical Assessment Tasks (PAT) and Internal Continuous Assessments (ICASS) at DHET colleges.
Rakometsi said Umalusi had repeatedly advised the DHET that the successful implementation of ISAT and PAT required comprehensive planning, adequate resources and facilities, and appropriate scheduling.
“Although Umalusi remains seriously concerned about these recurring irregularities, little progress appears to have been made,” he said.
He also expressed concern over the practice of teachers and principals preventing registered candidates from writing examinations in particular subjects.
“As previously stated, this unlawful practice is driven by an attempt to improve examination results,” he said.
Despite these concerns, Rakometsi said they were not systemic and did not threaten the overall credibility or integrity of the 2026 examinations.
“On the evidence presented, Umalusi is satisfied that the system is broadly ready to conduct, administer and manage the 2026 year-end national examinations, which will involve approximately 1.08 million candidates at 9,183 examination centres,” he said.
“Where concerns remain, corrective measures are being implemented by assessment bodies and closely monitored by Umalusi.”
Elections pose disruption risk
Rakometsi said the examination timetable had been amended to accommodate the local government elections on November 4, as was the case in 2021.
Umalusi has previously identified political activities and community protests as potential disruptions to examinations.
“Because the local government elections on 4 November coincide with the examination period, related political activities may affect examination operations,” he said.
“Umalusi therefore urges all stakeholders, including political and community leaders, principals, teachers, parents, etcetera, to minimise the disruption caused by political activities, especially in the vicinity of schools serving as examination centres.”
Rakometsi said Umalusi’s executive committee would announce its decision on the release of candidates’ results at a media briefing on January 8, 2027.
Umalusi will issue certificates of achievement to successful candidates within three months of the executive committee’s approval, subject to the timely submission of certification data by assessment bodies.
2025 exam paper breach
Rakometsi also confirmed that Umalusi had received the final report of the National Investigative Task Team (NITT), established by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube to investigate the breach involving the 2025 NSC Mathematics Papers 1 and 2, Physical Sciences Papers 1 and 2, and English Home Language Papers 1 to 3.
He said the investigation found that, of the 600,000 candidates who wrote the three subjects nationwide, the breach was limited to 40 Pretoria-based candidates.
“The DBE’s disciplinary processes are underway in accordance with relevant policies,” he said.
Rakometsi also noted that 2026 marks Umalusi’s 25th anniversary, which will be commemorated with a public lecture in Pretoria on December 4.
He wished the Class of 2026 strength and determination as they enter the final stage of their schooling.
He urged candidates to approach the examinations with confidence, discipline and integrity.
“This is the final stage of an important journey, and the country wishes you every success,” he said.
INSIDE EDUCATION
