By REGINALD KANYANE
12 October 2026 – South Africa’s Class of 2026 has pledged to uphold honesty, discipline and integrity as learners prepare to begin their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations on 13 October 2026. The pledge-signing ceremonies, held at schools across the country on Friday, reaffirmed matric candidates’ commitment to academic excellence and ethical conduct as they prepare to complete their schooling careers.
Addressing Free State matriculants at the provincial pledge-signing ceremony at the Bluegumbosch Multipurpose Centre in Qwaqwa, the Republic if South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa urged learners to remain focused and avoid making decisions that could jeopardise years of hard work and sacrifice. Ramaphosa urged learners to believe in themselves, for they believe in them.
“The nation stands behind you. We are proud of you for having reached this milestone. And we wish you every success. We acknowledge the sacrifices made by learners, their families, teachers and tutors in preparing for the examinations, describing the upcoming tests as an opportunity for matriculants to reap the rewards of their investment in education.
“No worthwhile goal can be achieved without sacrifice. Without persistence. Without discipline,” he said.
Ramaphosa also commended educators for their dedication to learners, noting that teachers often sacrifice time with their own families to support their students. He highlighted the progress made by learners from no-fee schools in townships and rural areas, saying their achievements reflected personal commitment and progress towards building an education system that provides equal opportunities for all.
“The Free State, which recorded the country’s highest matric pass rate for three consecutive years from 2022 to 2024, was encouraged to reclaim the top position after KwaZulu-Natal ended its winning streak in 2025.
“As the President of the Republic, I cannot favour any one province in the competition for first place, but we do expect the Free State to do everything it can to take its crown back,” Ramaphosa said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, who attended the pledge-signing ceremony at Fezeka Secondary School in the Western Cape, urged learners to approach the examinations with integrity, discipline and a commitment to excellence. Reflecting on her own educational journey, Gwarube encouraged candidates to take responsibility for their futures through diligent study and decisions that would open doors to opportunities beyond school.
She reminded learners that the examinations marked an important transition into adulthood and the next chapter of their lives. The Minister also warned against examination irregularities, including taking cellphones and crib notes into examination rooms, cautioning that academic dishonesty could have serious consequences for learners’ future opportunities.
“There are no shortcuts to success. A cellphone hidden in a pocket is not preparation. A leaked question paper is not intelligence. Copying another learner’s work is not achievement.
“The NSC must remain a qualification that South Africans can trust because it is earned honestly,” she said.
Gwarube further said by signing the pledge, learners commit themselves to honesty, accountability and giving their best throughout the examination period. She added that the pledge reinforces commitment to learners’ futures
In Gauteng, Deputy Minister of Basic Education Reginah Mhaule joined provincial Education MEC Lebogang Maile at Riverside High School in Three Rivers, Vereeniging, for the provincial pledge-signing ceremony. Mhaule said the occasion represented more than a commitment to comply with examination rules, reaffirming the importance of academic excellence, integrity, discipline and responsibility.
“Today, our learners are making a commitment not only to the examination system, but to themselves and the futures they are working to build,” Mhaule said.
The ceremonies are intended to reinforce fairness and accountability in the examination process while encouraging candidates to approach their final school examinations with confidence, dedication and determination.
The 2026 NSC examinations begin on 13 October, with Computer Applications Technology (CAT) Paper 1 practical scheduled for the first session.
The second session will feature Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu Home Language (HL), First Additional Language (FAL) and Second Additional Language (SAL) Paper 1, as well as Hebrew SAL and German HL, FAL and SAL Paper 1. The examination period will conclude on Thursday, 26 November 2026.
Learners have been urged to consult the official examination timetable to confirm the dates, times and subjects for their respective papers. As the Class of 2026 prepares to write, Ramaphosa’s message remains clear: years of preparation must be matched by discipline, honesty and a determination to succeed.
