The 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) Examinations will take place from October 21 to November 27. In Gauteng, 192 745 candidates have registered to write, marking the 18th cohort to sit for the NSC.

Speaking at Parktown Girls High School on October 12, Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane said there are 144 246 full-time candidates, representing a 6% increase from 2024 (8 195 more learners), and 48 499 part-time candidates.

A total of 1 040 centres are registered to conduct the examinations. All centres have been audited and declared compliant, and all invigilators and monitors have been trained and appointed.

Reflection on the Class of 2024

Gauteng’s Class of 2024 achieved a pass rate of 88.41%, a 3% improvement from 2023. They also recorded a 52.3% bachelor’s pass rate, amounting to 66 979 bachelor’s passes – the highest number in Gauteng since 1996 and the second highest nationally.

The Johannesburg West District achieved a 97% matric pass rate, making it the top-performing district in South Africa.

Support for the Class of 2025

Chiloane said that, in addition to structured curriculum delivery during school time, learners have benefited from various support programmes such as live lesson broadcasts, the Secondary School Improvement Programme (SSIP) and High Flyer interventions throughout the year.

Grade 12 learners attended SSIP residential camps during school holidays, where they received focused academic support. Many schools also ran their own improvement programmes, which played a vital role in preparing learners for the final examinations.

“The SSIP programme has proven effective in assisting learners with additional learning time and teacher support, especially those affected by disruptions such as service delivery protests or municipal service interruptions,” Chiloane said.

He added that digital platforms provided a range of high-quality learning and assessment resources. Candidates will continue receiving support throughout the examination period through the Just-in-Time programme, which offers daily subject-based revision sessions ahead of each paper.

Examination Readiness

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has appointed additional chief invigilators and monitors for high-enrolment and rewrite centres to strengthen exam management.

High-level security measures have been implemented and are closely monitored to prevent any paper leaks or irregularities. Service providers have been appointed to enhance security across all districts.

All candidates will sign a pledge before the examinations begin, affirming their commitment to the NSC Examination Code of Conduct.

NSC pledge signing ceremony

The GDE will lead the NSC Pledge Signing Ceremony on October 17 at 10:00 at Hoërskool Vorentoe in Rossmore, Johannesburg.

The ceremony will take place simultaneously at all public and independent schools in Gauteng participating in the 2025 NSC Examinations. Provincial departments have been requested to observe the same date and time nationwide.

Supporting the Class of 2025

Parents, guardians and community members are urged to support Grade 12 learners by:

• Avoiding activities that could disrupt learners or deny them access to exams.

• Providing a calm, quiet environment conducive to studying.

• Reducing household chores to allow sufficient rest and preparation time.

The department warned that blocking access routes or school gates could have serious consequences, as affected learners who miss their papers will only be able to rewrite in June 2026.

Key Dates

• Pledge signing ceremony: October 17

• Writing of NSC Exams: October 21–November 27

• Marking of NSC exams: Early session, November 16–24; Main session, December 2–12

• Ministerial release of results: January 12, 2026

• Provincial release of results: January 13, 2026

• Collection of results at schools: January 13, 2026

• Closing date for June 2026 rewrite: February 6, 2026