Matric exams in Gauteng went off to a smooth and confident start, with the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) reporting that only a few centres experienced minor hiccups, all swiftly handled.
Gauteng Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said the first day of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams ran smoothly across the province, with 16,968 candidates sitting for the three-hour Computer Applications Technology (CAT) Paper 1 practical exam at 9am.
Mabona said only four centres reported minor incidents, all before the start of the exams, which were swiftly resolved to ensure no learner was disadvantaged. Some centres experienced power outages, while others had candidates transported to nearby venues to complete their practicals without disruption.
“Letsibogo Maths, Science and ICT School of Specialisation in Meadowlands, Soweto, reported a power outage in the area since Monday afternoon. The school immediately used a generator to ensure exams continued without interruption. Similarly, PJ Simelane Secondary School in Soweto also relied on a generator to overcome power challenges in the area.
“At Liberty Community School in Bramley, a short power delay caused a slight late start, but the centre quickly switched to solar backup, and all candidates completed their practicals successfully.
“At Falcon Educational Centre in Dawn Park, 21 candidates were safely transported to a neighbouring centre to complete their practicals after a technical server issue was detected before the session began,” said Mabona.
He added that the department noted some minor absenteeism among both full-time and part-time candidates, but the numbers were small and did not diminish the overall smooth start of the examination period in Gauteng.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said that the department was pleased with the preparedness and swift response at examination centres.
“We are encouraged by the level of preparedness and commitment displayed across our examination centres on the first day of the NSC exams. Our teams acted swiftly where challenges arose, ensuring that every learner was able to write under fair and conducive conditions. We are satisfied that these minor incidents did not compromise the integrity of the examination. The Department will continue to monitor all centres across Gauteng closely to ensure the smooth administration of this crucial assessment.”
The Star
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