South Africa’s 2026 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations commenced across all nine provinces on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, opening with the practical sessions for digital and computational subjects. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) reported a smooth start with no major irregularities recorded as candidates sat for the Computer Applications Technology (CAT) Paper 1 Practical, followed on Wednesday by the Information Technology (IT) Paper 1 Practical alongside various language subjects.

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube commended the preparation across provincial education departments, school management teams, and examination officials, urging candidates to maintain focus throughout the examination cycle. The opening days required close logistical management to ensure that computer laboratories and practical assessment systems operated securely under standardized examination conditions.

Staging CAT and IT practical assessments at the very onset of the NSC timetable underscores the critical operational coordination needed for technology-driven subjects within the national curriculum, where uninterrupted power, hardware readiness, and strict digital integrity are prerequisites for fair evaluation.