Quality assurance body Umalusi says it is fully prepared for this year’s national matric examinations across both public and private institutions.

According to the Department of Basic Education (DBE) more than 766 500 full-time learners and more than 137 000 part-time learners have been registered to participate in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams.

Umalusi CEO Dr. Mafu Rakometsi has assured that all systems are in place to ensure fair, credible, and compliant assessments. He also reiterated that online schools cannot host exams as they remain unaccredited as a regulatory framework has yet to be finalised.

“We are not yet accrediting online schools, due to the absence of a regulatory framework for online education.”

Umalusi council member Dr. Mary-Antoinette Dliwayo says high-risk centres are categorised by whether the centre has a history of involvement in irregularities, if the examination venue is a private centre, and whether the centre is administering the NSC exams for the first time.

“Based on the outcomes of the risk assessments conducted, we are satisfied that there are adequate measures in place across all assessment bodies to mitigate the risks identified at high risk centres.”

Rakometsi added that new monitoring systems introduced this year are already showing positive results, ensuring greater accountability and transparency.

“We appeal to parents, guardians, teachers, and every other stakeholder to provide the necessary support to all candidates during this critical period of their educational journey, and to do everything humanly possible to ensure that no learner is unduly disadvantaged.”

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