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South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) has extended best of luck wishes to matric pupils who will be sitting for the 2025 National Senior Examinations (NSC).
The class of 2025 will sit for the NSC examinations, which officially commence on Tuesday, 21 October.
This year, a total of 188,057 candidates have registered to write in Gauteng, at 1007 centre across the province.
Sadtu general secretary, Dr Mugwena Maluleke emphasized that the importance of these examinations cannot be overstated saying they mark the culmination of twelve to thirteen years of schooling and serve as a gateway to tertiary education.
“The NSC examinations also play a crucial role in benchmarking the quality of South Africa’ education system. The journey of the Class of 2025 has not been easy. Their learning was disrupted by the COVID 19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 during their Grade 7 and 8.
“We commend both learners and teachers for their resilience, hard work, and determination in overcoming these challenges and making it to this crucial stage. SADTU expects this examination period to proceed without disturbances,” he expressed.
Maluleke called on all stakeholders in education – parents, communities, transport providers, and government – to offer their utmost support to learners during this critical time.
He continued; “We further urge everyone to uphold the principles of SADTU’s “I Am a School Fan” campaign by protecting schools from thuggery, violence, and vandalism.
“We appeal to communities to ensure that roads leading to schools are not blockaded as part of community protests, and that school transport services operate smoothly so that learners can arrive safe, on time.
“To the learners, we say: remain disciplined and avoid any conduct that could jeopardise your chances of obtaining that all-important National Senior Certificate. Believe in your abilities, stay focused, and finish strong.
“To our teachers, we call on you to continue displaying professionalism and integrity as you invigilate and mark these examinations.”
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Maluleke further encouraged families to provide learners with the necessary emotional and physical support throughout the examination period.
“We urge provincial departments of education and schools to strengthen security measures to prevent any examination paper leaks as such incidents compromise the integrity and credibility of the entire examination process,” he added.
Gauteng confident to retain Matric exams pass rate
Meanwhile, the Gauteng provincial government said it has consistently maintained its position among the top three performing provinces in the NSC examinations.
In 2024, the province achieved an impressive 88.4% pass rate, placing it third nationally behind the Free State (91%) and KwaZulu-Natal (89.5%).
Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, remarked that they remain confident that the Class of 2025 will continue the province’s proud tradition of academic excellence and resilience.
Conveying his best wishes, Lesufi highlighted that throughout the year, they have worked tirelessly to support and prepare the matriculants for success.
The premier said systems have also been put in place to mitigate potential disruptions, such as service delivery protests and operational challenges, ensuring that all learners can write their exams under safe and conducive conditions.
“On behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government, I wish the Class of 2025 all the best in their upcoming final examinations. May your hard work and dedication throughout the year bear fruit as you prepare for
these exams, which mark the culmination of your basic education,” said Premier Lesufi.
