^{By STAFF REPORTER}

^{12 October 2026 – The Minster of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube has declared the Department of Basic Education ready for the 2026 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, with a record 962 832 candidates registered to write the October/November examinations. Gwarube said the registered candidates, 815 051 are full-time learners, representing an increase of 48 508 compared with last year, while 147 781 are part-time candidates, including those seeking to improve their previous results.}

^{Announcing the department’s state of readiness in Pretoria on Sunday, Gwarube said the Class of 2026 was the largest full-time cohort to sit for the NSC examinations to date. She said all candidates have been provided with all the support they would need to perform and I am happy to declare that learners are ready for the 2026 NSC Exams.}

^{“Approximately 7 100 examination centres have been established across the country’s nine provinces to accommodate the candidates.}

^{“The department had audited the examination centre network and introduced a risk-based monitoring approach to ensure that supervision and resources were directed where they were most needed,” she said.}

^{Gwarube further confirmed that the setting, moderation and quality assurance of examination materials had been completed, with all question papers and examination instruments reviewed by the department and approved by Umalusi. She added that security measures had also been strengthened throughout the production and distribution chain, including the vetting of examination officials and collaboration with national and provincial law enforcement agencies.}

^{“The department has established 189 marking centres and recruited 51 104 qualified and experienced educators to mark examination scripts.}

^{“A standardised national marking approach, strict quality-control measures and strengthened moderation of school-based assessments will be implemented to protect the credibility of the qualification,” said Gwarube.}

^{She said her department has implemented its 2026 Learner Support Programme across all 75 education districts, reaching 159 180 learners at 1 262 centres. Gwarube said the programme provides additional learning and revision opportunities, particularly for progressed learners, those requiring extra support and schools experiencing performance challenges.}

^{“Learners have also received assistance through revision guides, previous examination papers, online learning materials, digital notes and mock examinations.}

^{“The Second Chance Matric Programme continues to support part-time candidates through after-hours and weekend classes at 41 centres, learning materials distributed to 84 centres and 15 provincial learner workshops,” she said.}

^{Gwarube said candidates Candidates also have access to class monitoring, free online study resources and educational broadcasts on radio and television. She acknowledged that the Class of 2026 had experienced disruptions to schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly during the transition from the Intermediate Phase to the Senior Phase.}

^{“The department had responded by strengthening curriculum coverage, using assessment information to identify learning gaps and providing additional revision opportunities.}

^{“We also appeal to parents and guardians to create a supportive home environment for learners during the final preparation period,” said Gwarube.}

^{She said they appeal to parents, not to burden learners with a load of household chores nor expect them to run family errands. Gwarube said they should give them the space and support they need to perform at their very best in these exams.}

^{“The department had adopted a zero-tolerance approach to examination irregularities and reinforced candidate and parent pledge agreements to promote examination integrity.}

^{“A 24-hour examination hotline is operational to enable members of the public to report suspicious activities,” she said.}

^{Gwarube said contigency plans have also been put in place to address operational challenges, including severe weather conditions and community disruptions. She appealed to communities not to disrupt the examinations to express dissatisfaction over service delivery, political issues or socioeconomic challenges.}

^{“I appeal to communities not to prejudice the Matric Class of 2026 by disrupting the NSC Exams for service delivery, political, or socio-economic dissatisfaction.}

^{“The NSC candidates cannot resolve societal problems, it is Ministers, as elected representatives, who must account,” said Gwarube.}

^{taungdailynews@gmail.com}