01/09/2026
2026 National Senior Certificate Provincial Advocacy Campaign Held in Zululand District
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has intensified preparations for the 2026 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations through its Provincial Advocacy Campaign, aimed at reinforcing examination standards and promoting a zero-irregularity approach.
As part of the campaign, the Department’s Examinations, Assessments and Quality Assurance Directorate convened Chief Invigilators and educator invigilators from schools across the Zululand District at Mlokothwa High School on 01 September 2026.
The engagement provided an important platform to strengthen the capacity of officials responsible for overseeing the examination process. It focused on ensuring that Chief Invigilators and invigilators understand their duties, adhere to prescribed procedures and remain vigilant in safeguarding the integrity, security and credibility of the NSC examinations.
Mr Mpiyakhe Mchunu, Chief Education Specialist: Examination and Assessment, Zululand District, welcomed officials on behalf of the District Director, who was unable to attend.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Raymond Penniston, Chief Director: Examinations, Assessments and Quality Assurance, emphasised that examinations must be protected as a credible measure of learner achievement. He urged examination officials to recognise the significance of the NSC examinations and to execute their responsibilities with professionalism, diligence and the highest level of integrity.
Mr Edwin Sibusiso Khanyile, Director: Examination and Administration, outlined the purpose of the engagement, which was to prepare examination personnel for the final administration of the 2026 NSC examinations. He highlighted the five pillars of a credible examination system, namely integrity, credibility, fairness, reliability and validity.
Mr Khanyile further emphasised the importance of empowering Chief Invigilators with clear information and practical guidance. He explained that the engagement was intended to strengthen officials’ understanding of examination directives, procedures and responsibilities, particularly in relation to examination security and the prevention of irregularities.
The programme featured presentations by examination officials on critical aspects of the examination cycle, including examination activities and script management, invigilation, the handling of irregularities, marking processes and monitoring.
Mr PGH Ntumba, Acting Director: Assessment, outlined key non-negotiables for the 2026 NSC examinations. These include strengthening invigilator training through a uniform approach; ensuring consistency in the administration of examinations before, during and after each examination session; deploying resident monitors to all high-risk centres; ensuring full compliance with Distribution Point Management; adhering to prescribed distribution and collection times; and eliminating examination malpractices, particularly group copying.
These measures are intended to strengthen examination security and ensure that the 2026 NSC examinations are administered in a fair, reliable and credible manner.
Officials who participated in the engagement included Dr Raymond Penniston, Mr E.S. Khanyile, Mr PGH Ntumba, Acting Director: Assessment; Dr XA Msomi, CES: Marking and SBA; and Mrs ZS Radebe, CES: Writing Monitoring and Irregularities, together with officials from the Zululand District.
As the 2026 NSC examinations approach, examination officials and invigilators are reminded of their collective responsibility to provide learners with a safe, fair and uninterrupted environment in which to write their examinations, while ensuring that all examination rules and procedures are strictly upheld.
The Department’s zero-irregularity message remains clear:
NO CRIB NOTES | NO IMPOSTERS | NO MISSING SCRIPTS | NO CELL PHONES | NO GROUP COPYING
Doing what is right and upholding the integrity of the examinations is a shared responsibility.
Through the Provincial Advocacy Campaign, the Department continues to strengthen the preparedness, accountability and professionalism of examination personnel. The collective commitment remains focused on preventing examination malpractice, minimising irregularities and working towards zero examination irregularities in the 2026 NSC examinations.
The engagement concluded with a question-and-answer session, providing participants with an opportunity to clarify procedures, raise concerns and receive guidance on matters relating to the administration, monitoring and security of the NSC examinations.
Date: 01 September 2026
Venue: Mlokothwa High School, Zululand District
