Home EducationSmooth Start to 2025 NSC Exams in Gauteng Despite Minor Power Hiccups, MEC Chiloane Assures Candidates and Parents

Smooth Start to 2025 NSC Exams in Gauteng Despite Minor Power Hiccups, MEC Chiloane Assures Candidates and Parents

by Selinda Phenyo
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Smooth Start to 2025 NSC Exams in Gauteng Despite Minor Power Hiccups, MEC Chiloane Assures Candidates and Parents

Johannesburg – The first day of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations in Gauteng unfolded without major hitches, with Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane praising the quick actions of teams at affected centres. All districts kicked off as planned, and while a few spots faced power woes and technical glitches, these were sorted swiftly to keep things fair for learners. This comes as the province joins the rest of South Africa in hosting the biggest-ever cohort of matrics, with over 190,000 candidates in Gauteng alone ready to tackle papers from 21 October to 28 November 2025. As families and schools rally behind the Class of 2025, officials stress that tight monitoring will continue to guard the exams’ integrity amid past worries about leaks and disruptions.


The positive kick-off aligns with national confidence, as all nine provinces declared full readiness last week, backed by quality assurer Umalusi’s green light on systems and security. In Gauteng, the focus now shifts to keeping the momentum, with MEC Chiloane urging learners to stay calm and focused. “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,” Chiloane said in a statement on Tuesday.


Strong Turnout for CAT Practical: 16,968 Candidates Sit Paper 1


Day one saw 16,968 full-time and part-time candidates across Gauteng tackle the three-hour Computer Applications Technology (CAT) Paper 1 practical exam, starting at 09:00. The department confirmed no big disruptions or cheating, with only minor absenteeism noted – nothing that dents the overall success. This mirrors the national picture, where 12,736 candidates wrote the same paper, part of a massive 903,561 registered writers countrywide.


Gauteng’s share includes over 190,000 candidates, the highest since public exams started, showing better school retention rates. MEC Chiloane highlighted the province’s push for a record pass rate, building on last year’s strong showing. “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,” he added.


Handling Minor Incidents: Power Outages and Tech Glitches Resolved Quickly


Four centres reported small issues, all caught and fixed before exams began, ensuring no learner lost out. At Letsibogo Maths, Science and ICT School of Specialisation in Meadowlands, Soweto, a power cut since Monday afternoon was no match for a backup generator, letting things run smoothly.


Similarly, PJ Simelane Secondary School in Soweto fired up its generator to beat local power troubles, with exams going ahead without a fuss. Liberty Community School in Bramley had a short delay from power woes but switched to solar backup, and all candidates wrapped up fine.


The trickiest spot was Falcon Educational Centre in Dawn Park, where a server glitch prompted the safe move of 21 candidates to a nearby centre. This step, taken before the session started, kept everyone on track.


These fixes show Gauteng’s readiness, with contingency plans like generators and backups in place – vital in a province hit by load shedding. Nationally, education bosses have ramped up security, with SADTU calling for more guards at centres to avoid past problems like leaks. Umalusi has set strict rules for online and distance learners too, to keep things fair.


Broader Context: National Readiness and Support for Matrics


Gauteng’s smooth day echoes the country’s prep, with all provinces geared up for a glitch-free run. Premier Panyaza Lesufi sent good wishes to the Class of 2025, noting the exams’ role in shaping futures. “The NSC exams will begin on Tuesday, 21 October 2025. The first day of the examinations will begin with the Computer Applications Tech P1,” his office shared in a countdown post.


Experts urge calm, with tips for last-minute study and stress handling. Provinces eye record passes, with Gauteng targeting top spots after years of gains. The timetable runs until 28 November, covering 162 papers in subjects from languages to sciences.


Looking Ahead: Monitoring and Motivation for the Class of 2025


As exams roll on, Gauteng’s department vows close watches on centres, ready to jump on any issues. Chiloane’s team stresses that small hiccups like these won’t hurt the process, thanks to quick fixes.
For learners, this is a big step after 12 years of school, opening doors to jobs or further study. With national backing from President Ramaphosa and others, the message is clear: stay strong and shine. As one expert put it, the Class of 2025 has what it takes to push pass rates higher and move the nation forward.


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