KZN Education Department Declares Readiness for Matric Exams, Vows Zero Tolerance for Disruptions
Durban, 07 October 2025 – The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has assured the public that all systems are go for the upcoming National Senior Certificate examinations, with tight measures in place to prevent any hitches. Officials are pulling out all stops to make sure the tests run smoothly, free from leaks, cheating or outside interference.
This comes after Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli and Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka made a surprise check at the secret exam paper printing centre on Tuesday. They stressed that nothing will be left to chance as over 170,000 Grade 12 pupils gear up to start writing in two weeks. With past years seeing problems like protests and paper leaks, the department’s plan includes a joint team with local government and police to keep schools safe. This push shows the province’s drive to lift pass rates and give learners a fair shot at success. As families and teachers rally behind the matrics, the focus is on calm and support to help them shine.
The inspections and plans build on ongoing efforts like Spring Camps, where thousands of pupils are getting extra help in tough subjects. This all-hands-on-deck approach aims to boost confidence and results in a province where education faces big hurdles like overcrowding and resource gaps.
Inspections and Security Measures in Place
Premier Ntuli and MEC Hlomuka’s visit to the undisclosed printing centre was all about checking that papers are secure and ready. They looked at how things are handled to stop any leaks, a problem that has hit exams before. Hlomuka said everything is set, with strong steps to protect the process.
“We have an integrated team which includes municipalities, COGTA, and law enforcement agencies, that is why we are meeting to ensure that there is no disruption of exams,” Hlomuka said.
He added that if protests pop up in communities, schools will stay out of it. “We are working with municipalities to ensure that if communities have issues with local government, but they must not disrupt exams.”
This team effort comes after talks with various groups to spot risks early. The department has also beefed up storage and transport of papers, with police escorts where needed. Past leaks, like the 2020 maths paper mess, led to arrests and rewrites, so officials are extra careful this time.
Spring Camps Boost Matric Preparation
To give learners the best shot, the department rolled out Spring Camps across districts during the recent holidays. These free sessions focus on key subjects like maths, science and languages, helping pupils catch up and revise.
At Sihayo High School in uMzinyathi District, Hlomuka praised the turnout on Monday. “We are pleased to see that our Matric Candidates are fully engaged in our Spring Classes,” he said.
Camps like this run in spots like uMsinga and uMkhanyakude, with teachers giving one-on-one help. Over 50,000 matrics joined last year, and numbers are up this time. The push ties into the province’s goal to hit an 85% pass rate, up from 82.9% in 2024.
Pupils get study guides, past papers and tips on exam stress. In rural areas, where schools lack labs or libraries, these camps bridge the gap, offering hot meals and safe spaces too.
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