A record 962,832 South Africans sit school-leaving exams
The matric exams began on Tuesday and run to 26 November. Ministers want a pass rate above last year's 88% and have warned against phones in the exam room.
Pretoria — South Africa's school-leaving examinations began on Tuesday with a record 962,832 candidates registered, the government news agency reports.
The National Senior Certificate exams, known as matric, mark the end of school for pupils in Grade 12. They run until 26 November. The Department of Basic Education declared itself ready at a briefing on Sunday.
The bar to clear
Last year's national pass rate was 88%. A deputy minister in the presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, said she had no doubt this year's class would do better, and that she was looking forward to a pass rate in the nineties.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, speaking at a ceremony for matriculants in Qwaqwa, in the Free State, urged pupils to believe in themselves and not to let a momentary lapse of judgement undo years of work.
The warning
The basic education minister, Siviwe Gwarube, warned candidates against cheating, including taking cellphones or notes into the exam room. There are no shortcuts, she told them.
On the Friday before the exams, pupils across the country signed pledges of honesty, discipline and integrity.
The first papers
Tuesday opened with the practical paper in computer applications technology. The second session covered first papers in a group of languages, among them Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and German, and a Hebrew paper.
The department is asking candidates to check the official timetable for their own dates and times.
Source: SAnews, 13 October 2026.
