South Africa Says 815,051 Pupils Ready for Final Exams

South Africa’s Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced on Sunday, 11 October, that 815,051 full-time pupils are prepared for the upcoming matric exams, which are the final school assessments determining university entry and most formal job qualifications. This is the largest cohort of full-time students to sit the National Senior Certificate to date.

Matric exams, also known as the National Senior Certificate, serve as a benchmark for the skills pipeline in South Africa, a country known for its industrial development. In addition to the 815,051 full-time candidates, 147,781 part-time students are registered for the exams, bringing the total number of registered candidates to 962,832.

The exam period is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, 13 October, and conclude on Thursday, 26 November. The first session will feature a practical test in Computer Applications Technology, followed by various other subjects, concluding on the mentioned date. The examination centers will be overseen by 7,100 staff members, with the department having hired 51,104 qualified teachers to mark scripts at 189 designated marking centers.

Prior to the exams, schools conducted pledge ceremonies to emphasize the importance of honesty during the assessments. President Cyril Ramaphosa attended a ceremony at Fezeka Secondary School in the Western Cape, urging students to believe in themselves while emphasizing the absence of shortcuts to success. However, Umalusi, the governing body responsible for approving exam papers and releasing results, has expressed concerns regarding potential disruptions during the exam period.

These disruptions could arise from the upcoming local government elections on 4 November and community protests near examination centers.