Gauteng prepares for 2025 matric exams: Over 192,000 candidates set to write

The Gauteng Education Department (GDE) has announced that at least 192,745 candidates are registered to sit for this year's National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

The department provided an overview of its state of readiness for the upcoming exams at Parktown Girls High School in Johannesburg this morning. The 2025 matric examinations are scheduled to begin on October 21 and conclude on November 27.

READ: Gauteng MEC to detail matric readiness and 2026 school placement plan

The GDE noted that 144,246 full-time candidates have registered, marking a 6% increase from last year’s academic year. Additionally, 48,499 candidates are registered as part-time learners.

MEC Matome Chiloane confirmed that more than one thousand centres are registered to conduct the examinations.

"We have 144,246 full-time candidates. And we've seen an increase of 8,195 from the previous academic year, 2024," MEC Chiloane stated. "The other 48,499 is the part-time candidates. We have 1,040 centres that are registered to conduct examinations, for both full-time and part-time."