The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has confirmed that it is all systems go ahead of 21 October 2025, when learners across all provinces in South African schools will commence with the final-year National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.
In a briefing meeting with the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries in Parliament, this week, Dr Barney Mthembu, DDG for Curriculum Policy, Support and Monitoring and Dr Rufus Poliah, Chief Director National Assessments and Public Examinations, reassured members that the education sector can expect a credible and fair NSC examination.
A total of 766,543 candidates have registered to write the 2025 NSC examinations, with 137,018 part-time and 41,119 progressed learners registering to write at 6,376 public schools and 579 independent centres. A total of 29,515 candidates from independent schools have also registered. The DBE conducted the final audit in September 2025.
A total of 162 question papers for the October/November examinations have been approved by Umalusi and are ready for handover to Provincial Education Departments (PEDs). Question papers have been adapted for learners with barriers to learning including Braille, Deaf and other special needs. The DBE again highlighted the fact that concessions and accommodations must be granted to learners from Grade 1, tracked and reviewed annually on SA-SAMS to ensure inclusion. On printing, packaging, and storage, PEDs conducted an internal audit of sites, whilst the DBE has conducted a verification audit of all sites, providing detailed printing guidelines for each question paper along with Standard Operating Procedures to ensure full compliance.
Markers must have a minimum 3-year post school qualification, at least a two-year post school qualification in the subject to be marked and at least two years’ experience in the last 5 years in the subject to be marked. Marker applications were verified at school (selection committee) and district level (subject advisors) before submission to the PEDs to ensure that only eligible and qualifying markers are considered. A total of 185 Marking Centres are in the process of being established across PEDs with the DBE hosting one Centralised Marking Centre. All marking centres will be open from 27 November with marking commencing on 2 December 2025. A total of 57 part-time monitors were appointed, and resident monitors will be deployed to all high-risk centres, including a takeover by Head Office and Districts where necessary. The training and authorisation process replicated by the PED in marking centres will be monitored by DBE Marking Moderators. Director-General, Mr Mathanzima Mweli, will be visiting marking centres as part of his annual monitoring and oversight visits.
At the Marking Standardisation meetings (MSMs), hosted in Pretoria, the DBE setting panel, the Umalusi moderator and the Internal Moderators and Chief markers from each of the PEDs, will meet to discuss and finalise the Marking Guideline from 27 Oct to 30 November 2025. A total of 162 subject paper marking standardisation meetings will be convened.
The DBE will continue with the extension of the E-Marking Pilot, in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE). The question papers that will be marked using the E-Marking modality in 2025 are: Mathematics P1 and P2, Mathematical Literacy P1 and P2 and Accounting P1 and P2. Scripts that are marked electronically are also marked manually (dual marking). The DBE is in the process of procuring the required software nationally which will be deployed to all PEDs. PEDs will each procure the guillotining and scanning equipment.
On the management of irregularities, the process of detection, investigation and hosting of hearings has improved. The Provincial Examination Irregularities Committees (PEICS) and the District Assessment Irregularities Committees (DAICS) are established and functional. Plans are in place to resolve all Administrative Errors and Omissions (AEOs) and Behavioural Offences and Acts of Dishonesty prior to the release of results in January 2026. All candidates will sign the annual pledge at a public ceremony to confirm their non-participation in acts of dishonesty during the writing of the examination.
DG Mweli this week, also commenced his online engagements with PEDs to ensure provincial readiness for the NSC examinations, along with preparations to ensure a smooth start for the 2026 academic year.