Johannesburg: With just hours to go before the start of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has wished the Class of 2025 well ahead of them putting pen to paper. “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,” the Premier said in a statement on Sunday.
According to South African Government News Agency, this year, a total of 188,057 candidates have registered to write the NSC exams in Gauteng, with 144,315 full-time and 43,742 part-time learners participating. The NSC exams will begin on Tuesday, 21 October 2025. The first day of the examinations will commence with the Computer Applications Tech P1, Practical exam in the morning session, followed by multiple language papers in the afternoon session.
The provincial government emphasized its consistent performance, noting that Gauteng has remained among the top three performing provinces in the NSC examinations. In 2024, Gauteng achieved an 88.4% pass rate, placing it third nationally behind the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
The examinations will be conducted at 1,007 centres across the province, encompassing public schools, independent schools, and designated centres. The Gauteng Provincial Government has expressed its commitment to supporting learners, urging parents and guardians to provide continued encouragement throughout the exam period. Measures have been implemented to address potential disruptions to ensure a smooth examination process.
The provincial government expressed confidence that the Class of 2025 will uphold Gauteng’s tradition of academic excellence. Meanwhile, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube is scheduled to hold a press briefing on Monday, 20 October 2025, to discuss the state of readiness for the 2025 National Senior Certificate examinations.