Gauteng learners gear up for 2025 matric exams

Gauteng enters the 2025 matric exam season fully prepared, with the provincial education department assuring parents and learners that all systems are in place for a smooth and credible National Senior Certificate (NSC) exam process.

MEC Matome Chiloane confirmed that thousands of candidates are ready to sit for the final exams from October 21 to November 27.

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) reported that 192 745 candidates have registered to write the exams, the 18th NSC cohort since the qualification’s inception.

Of these, 144 246 are full-time candidates, reflecting a 6% increase from 2024, while 48 499 are part-time candidates.

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) confirmed that 192 745 candidates had registered to write the exams, making them the 18th NSC cohort since the qualification’s inception.

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Of those registered, 144 246 are full-time candidates, reflecting a 6% increase from 2024, while 48 499 are part-time candidates.

The province has 1 040 registered examination centres, all audited and declared compliant. Invigilators and monitors were trained and appointed to ensure the smooth, credible conduct of the exams.

Throughout the academic year, matriculants benefited from extensive support programmes, including live lesson broadcasts, the Secondary School Improvement Programme (SSIP), and High Flyer interventions.

Many learners also attended SSIP residential camps during the school holidays, where they received targeted academic support across various subjects.

According to Chiloane, many schools ran their own improvement initiatives, which further strengthened learners’ readiness for the upcoming exams.

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The SSIP programme, in particular, has been instrumental in providing learners with extra learning time and teacher support, especially for those affected by community disruptions, such as service delivery protests or power and water outages.

The MEC appealed to communities across Gauteng to ensure a peaceful environment during the exam period.

“We urge communities not to disrupt these exams due to their unhappiness over service delivery issues. Our learners deserve a fair chance to complete their schooling without interruptions,” said Chiloane.

“What we expect from parents and communities is simple: Do not disrupt schools,” said Chiloane.

“It is an appeal I have made throughout the year. When there is no water, we are not the water department. When there is no electricity, we are not Eskom.

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“When there is a problem with the roads, we are not the Johannesburg Roads Agency or national transport. The Department of Education has nothing to do with issues outside school perimeters.”

Chiloane emphasised that schools should be treated as safe zones and allowed to function without interference.

“Leave the schools. Avoid disrupting our children while they are writing. We had unfortunate incidents in the past when criminal elements broke into schools during examinations.

“But despite that, those learners showed incredible resilience, and that school still achieved a 100% pass rate,” he said.

The MEC called on all stakeholders to support learners by ensuring a calm, stable environment throughout the exam period.