Gauteng Education MEC, Matome Chiloane, has called on the Class of 2025 to approach their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations with honesty and integrity. He was speaking at the 2025 Grade 12 NSC Pledge Signing Ceremony held at Hoërskool Vorentoe on Friday, 17 October 2025.
Addressing learners, Chiloane reminded them that their educational journey and the pledge they were signing were deeply connected. “In 2013, two significant events occurred. First, the Council of Education Ministers established this pledge requirement. Secondly, you, the Class of 2025, entered Grade 1, beginning a journey that brings you here today. Somehow, it is as if destiny aligned your educational path with this commitment to integrity,” he said.
The MEC praised the Class of 2025 for their resilience in adapting to new learning methods and overcoming challenges. “Class of 2025, you carry a special distinction. As the 18th cohort to write the NSC examinations, you have navigated unprecedented challenges. You adapted to online learning, returned to modified classrooms, and still managed to master not just traditional subjects but new offerings like Technical Mathematics and Sign Language. Your resilience has already been tested and proven,” Chiloane said.
The event brought together 390 matric candidates — 221 from Hoërskool Vorentoe and 169 from Westbury Secondary School — joining more than 192,000 Grade 12 learners across Gauteng participating in similar ceremonies. “You are living proof that when neighbouring schools unite, when communities collaborate, we create something powerful. While you gather here, identical ceremonies unfold across all 1,040 examination centres in Gauteng, binding 192,745 candidates in our provincial covenant of integrity,” he said.
Chiloane reminded learners that the NSC exams are not just another test, but a stepping stone to their future. “The NSC Examination is not just another test; it is a high-stakes national assessment that unlocks doors to employment and further education. Every mark you earn honestly becomes a key to your future. Every shortcut you resist strengthens your character. Every rule you follow protects not just your qualification, but the credibility of the entire system,” he said.
He also warned learners against distractions, particularly the use of social media during exams. “I urge you to disconnect from social media during this critical period. These platforms, which can be wonderful tools for connection, too often become breeding grounds for anxiety, false information, and cyberbullying during exam time. I am not asking you, I am instructing you: stay off social media during your examinations. Your emotional well-being depends on it,” he said.
Reinforcing the department’s zero-tolerance policy towards cheating, Chiloane cautioned learners against any form of misconduct. “No cellphones or watches in examination rooms – not in your pocket, not in your bag, nowhere. No disruptive behaviour that disturbs other candidates. No unauthorised materials or devices. No giving or receiving assistance. No writing on behalf of another candidate,” he warned.
The MEC further encouraged learners to report any cheating or irregularities, stressing the importance of protecting the value of their qualifications. “Your pledge today includes a commitment to report wrongdoing. This is not about being a snitch; it is about protecting the value of your qualification. When someone cheats, they do not just cheat the system; they cheat you by devaluing the very certificate you are working honestly to earn,” he said.
He also thanked teachers, parents, school governing bodies, and community leaders for their continued guidance and support. In closing, Chiloane encouraged learners to uphold integrity throughout their exams. “Be the cohort remembered not only for the highest pass rate, but for the highest integrity rate. Be the generation that made cheating obsolete. I want a 100% pass rate from you,” he said.
Before signing the pledge, the MEC reminded learners of its deeper significance. “As you prepare to sign this pledge, remember that this signature represents your word, your honour, your commitment to face these examinations with courage and integrity. You are not just promising to write examinations honestly. You are promising to write your life story with integrity. The pen is in your hands. Write wisely,” he said.
Additional reporting by SANews.gov.za
