#Matric Class of 2025: Best of luck to all learners taking their NSC exams

Over 750 000 matric learners from across the country are gearing up ahead of the National Senior Certificate exams, set to start tomorrow, October 21.

This excludes over 130 000 part-time (out-of-school) candidates who will sit the examinations to improve their results achieved in previous sittings, according to Umalusi, the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training.

Teaching staff and support teams have, since the beginning of this academic year, been helping learners prepare for their exams by, on top of the normal classes, implementing various support programmes, including study camps, targeted extra revision sessions, and preliminary exams throughout the year.

Good luck matric Class of 2025!
Within the City of Ekurhuleni alone, more than 39 000 learners will be writing their matric final examinations this year.
The Ekurhuleni Mayor, Dr Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, has joined local and national authorities in sending best wishes to the young people gearing up to tackle their final matric exams.
“Learners in Grade 12 have reached a significant milestone in their schooling journey as they prepare to sit for the NSC exams – the most important exam in their schooling life. We are thrilled to witness this monumental step in their lives as they transition into young adulthood and prepare for the beginning of a new era in their lives,” said Xhakaza.
“It is always heartwarming and inspiring to share in the excitement, anticipation, and determination of our learners as they prepare to take their place in our broader socio-economic society. May all our learners experience this milestone with vigour, focus, and unwavering commitment to succeed.

“The fact that you have persevered for so many years to get to this stage is a clear demonstration that you have what it takes to take this critical leap. On behalf of the city and her citizens, I extend best wishes to all matriculants sitting for this year’s examinations. Your success is not only your personal achievement, but a triumph for your families, communities, and our city as a whole.
“We look forward to seeing more of our young people entering institutions of higher learning, honing their passions, and returning to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of our municipality.”

Gauteng premier wishes learners well
Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, has also wished good luck to the 188,057 young people who are set to write their matric exams at 1,007 centres across the province.
These candidates consist of learners from 741 public schools, 267 independent schools, and 25 designated facilities. In Gauteng, 144,315 full-time and 43,742 part-time learners are registered to write the NSC exams.
“On behalf of the Gauteng provincial government, I wish the Class of 2025 all the best in their upcoming final exams. May your hard work and dedication throughout the year bear fruit, as you prepare for these exams, which mark the culmination of your basic education,” said Lesufi.

He pointed out that Gauteng has consistently maintained its position among the top three best-performing provinces in the country in the NSC exams, achieving an 88.4% pass rate – the third position nationally.
The premier called upon parents, guardians, and communities at large to support learners throughout the examination period. He added that systems are in place to mitigate disruptions, such as protests and operational issues, to ensure learners tackle their exams under safe and conducive conditions.

You can view the NSC October/November examinations timetable here: https://shorturl.at/dxZ7a

State of readiness
Umalusi, during a press briefing held last week, officially confirmed the state of readiness for the 2025 matric exams, despite a few areas of concern.
“Based on the report presented, Umalusi is confident that, by and large, the system is ready to administer the 2025 end-of-year national examinations. For that reason, Umalusi applauds the efforts of all role players for doing everything humanly possible to uphold the credibility and integrity of the examinations,” said Umalusi CEO, Dr Mafu Rakometsi.
“While the report flagged some areas of concern, the issues are not systemic in nature and do not compromise the overall credibility and integrity of the examinations. All concerns have been brought to the attention of the relevant Heads of Provincial Education Departments, the Directors-General of the DBE and DHET, and the CEOs of the IEB and SACAI for corrective actions to be taken before the start of the examinations.”

Umalusi encouraged all assessment bodies to use the remaining days between now and the start of the examinations to tie up any loose ends.

The road ahead
Umalusi said that going forward, it will undertake oversight monitoring of the writing of examinations at a sample of examination centres across the four assessment bodies.
“To ensure that the assessment bodies mark the candidates’ scripts according to the approved marking guidelines, and that the standard of marking is consistent and fair, Umalusi will conduct verification thereof.

“These processes are meant to determine whether the assessment bodies conduct, administer, and manage the examinations in accordance with the regulations governing national examinations. All processes converge around the need to ensure valid and reliable results and maintain the credibility of the assessments.”

Also Read: Boksburg’s Class of 2025 shines bright at matric farewells