Nearly one million candidates are preparing to sit for their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, with government, education authorities and political organisations urging the Class of 2026 to remain focused, confident and determined as they approach a major milestone in their lives.

The examinations officially begin on Tuesday, October 13, and will run until November 26, marking the culmination of years of schooling for thousands of young South Africans.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has wished the province’s matriculants well, acknowledging the contribution of teachers, parents, school management teams and education officials who have supported learners throughout their schooling careers.

In Gauteng, 203,794 candidates are expected to write the examinations, comprising 152,527 full-time and 51,267 part-time candidates across 1,065 examination centres.

The provincial government said the Class of 2026 entered Grade 1 in January 2015, making this year’s cohort the 19th group of learners to sit the NSC examinations.

Lesufi encouraged parents and guardians to provide learners with reassurance and a supportive environment as examination pressure intensifies.

“A calm study environment, healthy routines and words of encouragement can help learners manage the pressure and remain focused,” he said.

He also urged communities and organisations to avoid protests, road blockages and other disruptions that could prevent candidates from reaching their examination centres or interfere with the examinations.

The appeal comes as the Department of Basic Education confirms that preparations are complete for the national examinations, with a record 962,832 candidates registered across the country.

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced the department’s state of readiness on Sunday, saying the Class of 2026 was the largest full-time cohort to sit the NSC examinations to date.

Of the registered candidates, 815,051 are full-time learners, while 147,781 are part-time candidates, including those seeking to improve their previous results.

“All candidates have been provided with all the support they would need to perform, and I am happy to declare that learners are ready for the 2026 NSC Exams,” Gwarube said.

The department has established approximately 7,100 examination centres nationally and implemented monitoring measures to strengthen examination security.

Gwarube also appealed to communities not to use schools as venues for protests over service delivery, political grievances or socioeconomic challenges during the examination period.

She urged parents to give candidates sufficient time to study and avoid burdening them with household chores and family errands.

“The NSC candidates cannot resolve societal problems; it is Ministers, as elected representatives, who must account,” she said, calling on communities to direct their grievances to government offices rather than disrupt examinations.

The Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training, Umalusi, has also confirmed its readiness to oversee the examinations.

Following a state of readiness audit conducted between August 24 and September 30, Umalusi assessed areas including candidate registration, staffing at examination and marking centres, moderation of assessment materials, question paper security and systems for managing irregularities.

Umalusi chief executive officer Dr Mafu Rakometsi said the organisation had assessed preparations by the relevant assessment bodies and confirmed their readiness to administer the year-end examinations.

The quality assurance body urged candidates to approach their examinations with confidence, discipline and integrity, while warning against attempts to gain an unfair advantage through examination irregularities.

The examinations will test more than academic knowledge for learners who have spent years preparing for the transition from school to higher education, vocational training or employment.

The Class of 2026 also experienced disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected schooling when the cohort was in Grade 6 in 2020.

Despite the challenges, the Department of Basic Education said it had implemented learner support programmes across all 75 education districts, reaching 159,180 learners through targeted interventions at 1,262 centres.

The initiatives included additional learning opportunities, revision resources and support for learners who needed further assistance in preparing for their final examinations.

Meanwhile, the Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO) has urged matriculants to view education as a tool for personal development and broader social transformation.

In a statement released on Monday, the organisation extended its best wishes to the Class of 2026, drawing on its Black Consciousness philosophy and the principle of “Educate to Liberate”.

AZAPO acknowledged that learners from historically disadvantaged communities continue to face challenges, including overcrowded classrooms, inadequate learning resources, deteriorating infrastructure and socioeconomic inequalities.

The organisation said a learner’s intellectual potential should never be judged by the poverty of their school or the limitations of their learning environment.

It encouraged candidates to enter examination rooms with confidence and discipline, reminding them that examination results alone do not determine their worth or future potential.

“Your circumstances do not determine your destiny. Your dreams are legitimate, your intellect is powerful, and your future is worth fighting for,” the organisation said.

AZAPO also called on education departments, schools, educators, parents and communities to provide academic, emotional and psychosocial support throughout the examination period.

The organisation recognised teachers who continue to prepare learners under difficult conditions and reiterated the need for quality, accessible and equitable education.

With the examinations approaching, the message from government and education stakeholders is that learners must concentrate on their preparation while communities work together to protect their opportunity to write.

For the Class of 2026, the coming weeks will represent the culmination of years of learning and sacrifice, as well as an opportunity to take the next step towards their ambitions.

Candidates have been encouraged to prepare thoroughly, manage their time carefully, follow examination rules and seek assistance from teachers when they encounter difficulties.

As Lesufi reminded Gauteng’s matriculants, their families, teachers and communities are behind them as they complete this chapter of their lives and prepare for the opportunities that lie ahead.