By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa’s national education quality assurance body, Umalusi has announced that the system is ready to conduct the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams.
Umalusi briefed the media on the state of readiness to administer and manage the 2025 end-of-year examinations.
With over 900,000 candidates expected nationwide, the 2025 exams represent a critical milestone for South Africa’s education system, testing not only students but also the resilience of administrative frameworks.
Umalusi CEO Dr. Mafu Rakometsi confirmed that while minor challenges were identified during readiness audits, none were systemic or serious enough to jeopardise the integrity of the exams.
“We are satisfied that the system is ready to administer the 2025 national examinations,” said Rakometsi.
“Umalusi is satisfied that all the assessment bodies have adequately trained their personnel (assistant invigilators, invigilators, chief invigilators, etc.) to execute all the activities connected with the conduct, administration and management of the 2025 year-end examinations.”
Umalusi’s readiness audit, conducted between August 11 and October 9 across all nine provinces, assessed key operational areas such as registration, security, training, and logistical planning.
Rakometsi emphasised that any concerns flagged during the audit process have been communicated to the relevant provincial education departments for immediate attention.
The NSC accounts for the largest share of candidates, with 766 543 full-time pupils registered under the DBE, and an additional 23 601 from the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) and the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI).
Umalusi’s Senior Manager, Dr Mary-Antoinette Dliwayo, said the body’s comprehensive audit of the Department of Basic Education, the Department of Higher Education and Training, the Independent Examinations Board, and the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute found that the system is ready to administer the exams.
“By and large, the system is ready to administer the 2025 end-of-year national examinations. Umalusi applauds the efforts of all role players for doing everything humanly possible to uphold the credibility and integrity of the examinations.”
According to Umalusi’s audit report, a total of over one million candidates are registered to sit for various national examinations this year — including more than 900,000 learners writing the National Senior Certificate (NSC) under the Department of Basic Education.
The exams will take place across more than 9,400 examination centres nationwide.
Dr Dliwayo said Umalusi had reviewed key focus areas such as candidate registration, the appointment and training of personnel, moderation of question papers, and the security of examination materials.
She said the body was satisfied that the measures in place were adequate to protect the integrity of the exams.
“Because the security protocols are classified, we cannot provide details, but we are satisfied with the plans in place to manage the entire value chain — from printing and packaging to the distribution of question papers.”
Umalusi’s audit also confirmed that all invigilators, chief invigilators, and support staff have been adequately trained to manage the administration of the examinations and to respond appropriately to any irregularities that might arise.
“All assessment bodies have adequately trained their personnel to execute all activities connected with the conduct, administration, and management of the 2025 examinations, “Dr Dliwayo added.
The body further confirmed that question papers and internal assessments have undergone external moderation to ensure compliance with national standards.
Dliwayo said although minor shortages of markers had been identified in subjects such as History and Home Language Paper 3, the Department of Basic Education had implemented recruitment drives and extended marking periods to address the gaps before the marking process begins on 15 November.
The exams will be written in phases across the four assessment bodies, with marking expected to conclude by 18 December 2025.