Umalusi affirms readiness for 2025 national exams despite flagged concerns

According to Umalusi’s audit, more than one million candidates are registered for various national examinations this year.

South Africa’s quality assurance authority for general and further education, Umalusi, has assured the nation that the examination system is prepared to conduct, administer and manage the 2025 end-of-year national examinations. Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria, Umalusi’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mafu Rakometsi, acknowledged some areas for improvement flagged in a recent audit but stressed these were not systemic and would not compromise the credibility of the exams.

“By and large, the system is ready for the conduct, administration and management of the 2025 end-of-year national examinations. For that reason, I can report to the public that the system is ready,” Rakometsi asserted.

Scale of the challenge: registrations and institutions

According to Umalusi’s audit, more than one million candidates are registered for various national examinations this year. Among them:

• Over 900,000 learners will sit the National Senior Certificate (NSC) under the Department of Basic Education (DBE)

• Of those, 766,543 are full-time candidates, and 137,018 are part-time candidates aiming to improve previous results

• 17,427 learners will write the NSC under the Independent Examinations Board (IEB)

• 6,174 candidates are registered through the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI)

• Exams will run across more than 9,400 examination centres nationwide, covering both public and private assessment bodies

Umalusi Senior Manager Dr Mary-Antoinette Dliwayo explained that the audit encompassed all the major assessment bodies — DBE, DHET, IEB, and SACAI — and evaluated critical components such as candidate registration, examination material security, marker readiness, and systems for managing irregularities.

Key assurances and audit findings

Some of the positive indicators cited by Umalusi:

• Registration compliance: All candidates have been registered in line with examination regulations.

• External moderation: Question papers have been externally moderated.

• Security protocols: Adequate security measures are in place for printing, packaging, and distribution of examination papers.

• Marker training: Umalusi is satisfied that exam markers will be sufficiently trained before marking commences on 15 November 2025, with marking expected to conclude by 18 December 2025.

Despite this, Umalusi’s audit flagged a few areas of concern:

• Marker shortages in certain subject areas

• Data consolidation challenges within the DHET’s N3 examination records

• Some logistical or procedural risks (though deemed non-systemic)

These issues, Rakometsi and Dliwayo confirmed, have already been communicated to relevant provincial education departments, DBE and DHET leadership, and to the CEOs of IEB and SACAI, with instructions to rectify before the official start of exams.

Deterrence, stakeholder responsibility & monitoring

Umalusi issued a firm warning to learners and educators: any form of examination irregularity or cheating will not be tolerated. Rakometsi stated:

“We condemn this criminal practice with the contempt it deserves. Cheating compromises the integrity of our national examination system, which we are mandated to jealously protect.”

He further appealed to parents, guardians, teachers, and communities to support candidates and ensure that examination centres remain free from protest-related disruption. According to him, examinations should not be used as leverage in protests — a stance echoing Umalusi’s role as a guardian of educational integrity.

To uphold system integrity, Umalusi will continue monitoring by sampling examination centres to check compliance, even during the writing period. Following the exams, standard quality assurance processes will be applied, including:

• Mark verification

• Standardisation of results

• Final approval of results release by Umalusi’s Executive Committee, expected by 9 January 2026

Broader institutional capacity & governance context

The confidence expressed by Umalusi is backed by its institutional track record and statutory mandate. The body has extended monitoring over marking centres and examination centres, seeking to expand its oversight over time. (umalusi.org.za)

Umalusi’s annual report notes that over the recent years, it has increased the number of marking centres monitored, and has maintained clean audits and compliance with its performance objectives. (umalusi.org.za) The body also continues to refine policies around accreditation, certification, verification, and research to strengthen its foundations. (umalusi.org.za)

Furthermore, Umalusi’s public advisory confirms the upcoming media briefing would address readiness for assessments across multiple subframeworks including NSC, NCV (Levels 2–4), NATED Report 190/191 (N2–N3), and GETC: ABET. (gov.za)

Final encouragement to Class of 2025

As the National Senior Certificate exams are slated to begin on 21 October 2025, the Department of Basic Education has urged learners to stay focused and utilise support measures — including revision materials, radio lessons, catch-up sessions, and school-based study camps. (SAnews)

In closing, Rakometsi commended all stakeholders — DBE, Provincial Education Departments, DHET, IEB, SACAI, and others — for their efforts. He extended well wishes to the Class of 2025, urging them to approach their final examinations with strength and resolve.

“We wish the Class of 2025 strength and determination as they enter the final lap of their educational journey,” he said.