The Department of Basic Education has urged provinces to remain on high alert as extreme weather conditions, including intense heat, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, are expected to affect several parts of the country during the final phase of the 2026 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.
The department has identified Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and the Northern Cape among the provinces expected to experience adverse weather conditions.
Despite the weather concerns, the department said the matric examinations were progressing smoothly, although absenteeism, particularly among part-time candidates, remained a concern.
Department spokesperson Terence Khala said officials were working to ensure examination centres were adequately prepared to accommodate learners during the challenging weather conditions.
He highlighted concerns over extreme heat in provinces such as Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, where temperatures have placed additional pressure on examination centres.
Khala said the department was ensuring that examination centres had sufficient drinking water and proper ventilation to provide learners with a comfortable environment in which to write their examinations.
He also stressed the importance of communicating safety messages to learners to help them cope with the extreme conditions.
Meanwhile, preparations for the marking of the 2026 matric examinations are underway.
The department said marking centres are expected to open between November 26 and 28, with the marking process scheduled to begin on December 1.