Gauteng MEC for Basic Education, Matome Chiloane, has appealed to parents, guardians, and communities to rally behind matric pupils as they prepare for their final National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.
Chiloane urged South Africans to give their full support to the class of 2025 as the NSC exams begin on October 21 and run until November 27.
“Don’t disrupt schools — it’s an appeal that I have been saying throughout the year. When there’s no water, we are not Rand Water; when there’s no electricity, we are not Eskom; when there’s a problem with the road, we are not Johannesburg Roads Agency or the national department of transport. So we’ve got nothing to do with the problems they’re experiencing outside the school perimeters. Therefore, the school should be left alone — avoid disrupting our children when they’re writing,” he said.
The MEC reminded parents not to assign unnecessary chores to pupils during this period but to create a calm and quiet environment where they can focus and rest properly. He said parents and communities can support students by:
Avoiding activities that disrupt pupils or hinder their access to examinations;
Providing a conducive environment for study;
Allowing pupils enough time to rest and prepare instead of overburdening them with daily chores;
Avoiding road blockages or school gate obstructions, as this could prevent learners from writing and force them to defer their exams until June 2026.
“These exams are a critical time in our learners’ lives. Let’s make sure they get all the support they need,” Chiloane said.
He also advised pupils to arrive at their examination centres early — at least one hour before the start of each paper — as late arrivals disrupt scanning, screening, and administrative processes. Candidates were urged to comply fully with all screening procedures or risk being denied access to the exam room.
Learners were also cautioned to check and empty their pockets and surrender any devices before the exam starts to avoid disqualification if a cellphone rings during the session.
Chiloane revealed that all candidates will sign a pledge on Friday to confirm their commitment to exam rules. He added that early marking will take place between November 16 and 24, while the main marking session is scheduled for December 2 to 12.
The Minister of Education is expected to release national results on January 12, followed by provincial announcements on January 13.
“These exams are a critical time in our learners’ lives. Let’s make sure they get all the support they need,” Chiloane emphasized.
