As the examinations get underway, learners are encouraged to remain focused, manage examination pressure, and seek assistance from teachers if they experience anxiety or struggle with their preparation. The first session includes the Computer Applications Technology (Cat) Paper 1 practical examination, while the second session includes several language papers.

More than 815, 000 full-time candidates are registered for this year’s National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, which run until 26 November across approximately 7,100 examination centres in all nine provinces.

The department of basic education has declared itself ready for the examinations, with nearly 963,000 full-time and part-time candidates registered nationwide.

It urged them to remain focused, uphold examination integrity, and seek support where needed, while appealing to communities to ensure that nothing disrupts their opportunity to write in a safe and secure environment.

Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube said the Class of 2026 was the largest full-time cohort to sit the NSC examinations to date. “All candidates have been provided with all the support they would need to perform, and I am happy to declare that learners are ready for the 2026 NSC exams.

“The department is taking a proactive, zero-tolerance approach to examination irregularities. There are no shortcuts to success. A cellphone hidden in a pocket is not preparation. A leaked question paper is not intelligence. Copying another learner’s work is not achievement.

“The NSC must remain a qualification that South Africans can trust because it is earned honestly.

“I appeal to communities not to prejudice the Matric Class of 2026 by disrupting the NSC exams for service delivery, political, or socio-economic dissatisfaction.”

The department has established 189 marking centres and recruited 51,104 qualified and experienced educators to mark examination scripts. It has also confirmed that question papers and examination materials have been set, moderated, and approved by the quality assurance body, Umalusi.

President Cyril Ramaphosa warned matriculants against engaging with stolen or leaked examination papers, urging them to uphold integrity as they prepare for the NSC examinations. Addressing learners at the Free State 2026 NSC pledge ceremony at the Bluegumbosch Multipurpose Centre in Qwaqwa on Friday (9/10), Ramaphosa urged candidates to commit to writing their examinations honestly and without copying others.

“If other people come to you with stolen exam papers, don’t even get closer to them because last year there were some students who somehow got stolen matric papers and distributed them amongst themselves. They were found, and they were banned for life.”

OFM News/Zenande Mpame cvs

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