Umalusi, the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training, is set to brief the public on its state of readiness for the 2026 national matric examinations in Pretoria on Thursday. The briefing will cover the readiness of public and private assessment bodies, including the Department of Basic Education, Department of Higher Education and Training, Independent Examinations Board, and South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute. These bodies will conduct, administer, and manage the 2026 end-of-year national examinations.
The 2026 matric examinations are scheduled to start in October and conclude in November. In the Free State Province, 409 examination centres have been finalised to serve 48,141 candidates, comprising 39,352 full-time and 8,789 part-time candidates. The examinations will commence on October 13 and conclude on November 25. The Free State Department of Education has declared itself ready to administer the examinations in a credible, secure, fair, and well-managed manner.
The Free State Department of Education has finalised all operational arrangements, including examination centres, candidate registration, invigilators, monitors, secure storage, distribution, and transportation of question papers, and preparations for marking. The department is working with relevant security structures to ensure all provincial and district storage facilities meet required norms and standards. Monitoring and examination integrity remain a top priority, with high-risk centres identified for enhanced oversight.
On Friday, all Grade 12 learners nationally will sign the National Pledge, a critical milestone ahead of the 2026 NSC examinations. President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead the 2026 Grade 12 National Pledge Ceremony in the Free State Province, with 13 schools and 2,174 candidates participating. The ceremony marks a commitment to upholding the values of honesty, integrity, and hard work and to abiding by all examination rules.
In KwaZulu-Natal, MEC Sipho Hlomuka will conduct an oversight visit to the NSC examination paper printing centre and unveil the province’s state of readiness on Friday. The department’s preparations aim to ensure that the 2026 NSC examinations are conducted in a credible, secure, fair, and well-managed environment across all districts of the province. Key areas to be addressed include the readiness of printing facilities, examination centres, learner and teacher support programmes, and the distribution and security of examination materials.
The Western Cape Education Department has rolled out a comprehensive support system to bolster academic performance and mental well-being for learners preparing for the 2026 matric final examinations. A total of 71,302 full-time NSC candidates are set to sit for the exams, along with 13,834 part-time and repeat candidates. The examination period is scheduled to commence on October 13 with the Computer Applications Technology Practical exam and will continue until November 25.
The national matric results will be released on January 11, 2027. Provincial departments of education are working to ensure that the examinations are conducted in a secure and fair environment. MEC for Education in the Free State, Dr. Mamiki Maboya, said that the department is fully ready to deliver a credible, secure, and fair examination, with no tolerance for any irregularity or security breach.
Key points
- Umalusi to brief public on readiness for 2026 matric exams
- Provincial departments of education preparing for October start
- National matric results to be released on January 11, 2027
