Teacher unions, pupils express cautious optimism ahead of matric exams

WITH the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations set to kick off in October, teacher unions and Grade 12 pupils in KwaZulu-Natal have expressed cautious optimism about readiness while acknowledging the pressures of the final stretch of the school year.

- SIPHESIHLE BUTHELEZI [e-mail]

South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) KwaZulu-Natal provincial secretary Nomarashiya Caluza said schools had grappled with resource constraints, particularly at the start of the year due to funding challenges.

"This causes a lot of anxiety among teachers. However, teachers have always been engaged in the classroom, yes with less support sometimes from the department," Caluza said.

She emphasised the importance of subject advisors in supporting and guiding teachers but said there is a shortage of them in the province.

Funding challenges also disrupted learning midyear. "At some point in June, there were learning disturbances when the union called for payment of basic allocation to schools," Caluza said.

Despite these setbacks, she said teachers were committed to ensuring learners were ready for their final examinations.