The Eastern Cape today joined other provinces across the country in the official Signing of the Pledge ceremony, marking the final stretch towards the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. Education MEC Fundile Gade led the provincial ceremony at Humansdorp High School, Sarah Baartman District Municipality.
The Pledge Signing Ceremony serves as a proactive measure to promote honesty and curb examination irregularities, symbolising learners collective commitment to uphold ethical conduct as they prepare for their final assessments.
Over 108 000 full-time and 13 719 part-time candidates are registered to write this year s exams at 1 086 centres across the province, including new schools offering Grade 12 for the first time. A total of 967 Chief Invigilators from public and independent schools have been trained and appointed, while an additional 119 Chief Invigilators have been appointed by district examination heads to oversee the smooth conduct of the 2025 NSC examinations.
The Department s Last Push Programme, launched in September, continues to provide targeted academic and psychosocial support to learners. It includes subject-specific camps, virtual lessons, revision packs, and collaboration with business and education partners.
In addition, the Department has deployed 36 psychologists and social workers to offer mental health and emotional support to learners through its Customer Care platform. We want to ensure our learners are not only academically prepared but also emotionally resilient. The Department has strengthened partnerships with other government entities including SAPS, Health, and Social Development, to ensure a safe and conducive examination environment. Security companies have been contracted to safeguard question papers at all storage points across the province”, MEC Gade stated.
The MEC also noted interventions to address scholar transport disruptions affecting 802 learners in certain districts, assuring that contingency plans are in place to prevent any disruption to the exams. The Eastern Cape enters the 2025 examination season buoyed by the success of the Class of 2024, which achieved a record-breaking 84.9% pass rate, the highest in the province s history and a testament to years of steady improvement in education outcomes.
MEC Gade encouraged learners to approach the examinations with confidence and determination. To our learners, we wish you all the best in your upcoming exams. May God bless you and guide you to success,” he said.
