The country’s examination quality assurance body, has expressed full confidence in the state of readiness for the 2025 national examinations. Umalusi said that all systems are in place to ensure that more than one million registered candidates write their final exams in a credible and secure environment.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Umalusi’s Senior
Manager, Dr Mary-Antoinette Dliwayo, said the body’s comprehensive audit of the
Department of Basic Education, the Department of Higher Education and Training,
the Independent Examinations Board, and the South African Comprehensive
Assessment Institute found that the system is ready to administer the exams.
"By and large, the system is ready to administer the
2025 end-of-year national examinations. Umalusi applauds the efforts of all
role players for doing everything humanly possible to uphold the credibility
and integrity of the examinations."
PICTURE: DBEAccording to Umalusi’s audit report, a total of over one
million candidates are registered to sit for various national examinations this
year — including more than 900,000 learners writing the National Senior
Certificate (NSC) under the Department of Basic Education.
The exams will take place across more than 9,400
examination centres nationwide.
Dr Dliwayo said Umalusi had reviewed key focus areas such
as candidate registration, the appointment and training of personnel,
moderation of question papers, and the security of examination materials.
She said the body was satisfied that the measures in place
were adequate to protect the integrity of the exams.
"Because the security protocols are classified, we
cannot provide details, but we are satisfied with the plans in place to manage
the entire value chain — from printing and packaging to the distribution of
question papers."
Umalusi’s audit also confirmed that all invigilators, chief
invigilators, and support staff have been adequately trained to manage the
administration of the examinations and to respond appropriately to any
irregularities that might arise.
"All assessment bodies have adequately trained their
personnel to execute all activities connected with the conduct, administration,
and management of the 2025 examinations,” Dr Dliwayo added.
The body further confirmed that question papers and
internal assessments have undergone external moderation to ensure compliance
with national standards.
Dliwayo said although minor shortages of markers had been
identified in subjects such as History and Home Language Paper 3, the
Department of Basic Education had implemented recruitment drives and extended
marking periods to address the gaps before the marking process begins on 15
November.
The exams will be written in phases across the four
assessment bodies, with marking expected to conclude by 18 December 2025.
Dr Dliwayo said Umalusi will continue to monitor the
process through oversight visits to examination centres and marking venues to
ensure consistency, fairness, and compliance with regulations.
"All these measures converge around the need to ensure
valid and reliable results and to maintain the credibility of the
assessments."
Meanwhile, Umalusi CEO Dr Mafu Rakometsi announced that the
council will no longer oversee or issue certificates for the National
Certificate Vocational (NCV) Levels 2 and 3 examinations, as part of a
realignment of its quality assurance responsibilities.
"The implication is that from now onwards Umalusi is
no longer involved in the quality assurance of NCV Levels 2 to 3 examinations,
including the issue of certificates to successful candidates. The only NCV
examinations for which Umalusi will continue quality assuring are those
connected with NCV Level 4."
In addition, Rakometsi revealed that Umalusi has placed the
DHET under close monitoring in 2025, following several lapses identified in the
conduct and management of its assessments in previous cycles.
"The executive committee of Umalusi Council has
directed that the Department of Higher Education and Training be placed under
close monitoring during 2025 to ensure that stringent measures are put in place
to address recurring areas of non-compliance."
The 2025 national examinations will be closely monitored by
Umalusi across all provinces, with the release of learner results scheduled for
January 2026.
Done By: Mitchum George
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