More than 200 000 learners in KwaZulu-Natal prepare for final matric exams

MORE than 200,000 learners in KwaZulu-Natal will begin their final matric examinations on Tuesday, October 21.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has set an ambitious target, seeking a minimum pass rate of 95% for the 2025 examinations.

In total, 179,751 full-time candidates and 16,148 part-time students will sit for the exams, reflecting a 3% increase in participation compared to 2024.

MEC for Education, Sipho Hlomuka, said they have developed an Academic Improvement Plan, aimed at improving their pass rate from 89.5% to a minimum of 95%, with the ultimate goal of reaching 100%.

He said the 12 districts formulated district-specific improvement plans aligned to the provincial strategy.

In preparation for the upcoming examinations, a series of educational programmes were rolled out, including winter programmes and spring classes.

"Our Winter Tuition Programme, which ran from 27 June to 21 July 2025, focused on ensuring full curriculum coverage and intensive learner preparation before the end of August.

"Our provincial vision remains clear that every learner who sits for the final examination must pass. We know that external factors sometimes make a 100% pass rate difficult, but we are determined not to fall below 95%. This would still represent significant growth from 2024," he said.

KwaZulu-Natal runs the largest examination system in the country, supported by 6,450 invigilators overseeing 6,712 examination rooms across 1,705 public centres and 61 private examination centres.

Examination materials will be distributed through 13 storage points and 103 distribution and collection centres. KwaZulu-Natal will print 113 question papers, totalling 35,192,785 printouts, to be written across 27 morning and 27 afternoon sessions.

A total of 7,889 markers have been appointed and will begin marking from 2 to 12 December 2025 across 32 marking centres.

"All systems are in place to manage potential challenges, including inclement weather. We are working closely with the Joint Operations and Communication Committee to ensure examinations proceed safely, securely, and credibly. All schools and marking centres have been advised on emergency procedures to ensure exams proceed without interruption," said Hlomuka.

Across the country, over a million learners are expected to sit for their final exams at about 9 400 examination centres.

Confidence Dikgole, chief executive officer of the Independent Examinations Board (IEB), confirmed that 17 447 learners are writing the 2025 IEB NSC examinations, compared to 16 304 learners who wrote in 2024.

Learners who are studying Computer Applications Technology (CAT) and Information Technology (IT) began their exam on Friday, while the main examination session officially begins on Tuesday, October 21.

"The IEB does not set a target pass rate, as our focus is on the achievement and growth of each individual learner. We believe that schools and learners have worked diligently to prepare for the examinations, and we look forward to every learner realising their full potential. The collective outcomes will naturally reflect the success of their efforts, and we trust these will be consistent with the strong performance trends of previous years," said Dikgole.

Umalusi, an independent statutory body responsible for quality assurance in general and further education and training in South Africa, conducted an audit assessing the readiness of public and private assessment bodies, including the Departments of Basic Education (DBE) and Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), Independent Examinations Board (IEB), and South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute, to conduct the 2025 national exams for specific qualifications.

In a statement Umalusi said they were confident that, by and large, the system is ready to administer the 2025 end of year national examinations.

It added that while some areas of concern were flagged, all the concerns had been brought to the attention of the relevant heads of provincial education departments and the directors-general of the Department of Basic Education, and Department of Higher Education and Training, the CEOs of the IEB and the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI) for the corrective actions to be taken before the start of the examinations.

Dr Mafu S. Rakometsi, CEO of Umalusi, appealed to parents, guardians, teachers, and every other stakeholder to provide the necessary support to all candidates during this critical period of their educational journey and to do everything humanly possible to ensure that no candidate is unduly disadvantaged.

"Umalusi discourages communities from using the examinations as leverage for any form of protest action. It is the duty of every South African to jealously protect the education of our children. Umalusi will deploy its officials to monitor the conduct of the examinations to ensure full compliance with the relevant regulations.

"We would like to issue a stern warning to all learners and teachers alike to refrain from involvement in any form of irregularity or cheating during the examinations. Umalusi berates and condemns this criminal practice with the contempt it deserves," said Rakometsi.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE