Wishing Grade 12 leaners good luck in their exams, Mokonyane warned parents, educators and society not to pressurise the learners but instead offer the right support and encouragement.

“The pressure we put on the learners sometimes has catastrophic consequences.”

More than 45 000 learners began their practical examination in Information Technology at various centres around the country on Monday.

The big day for matrics will be 24 October, where a total of 620 266 learners - including 512 029 full time and 108 237 part time learners - will be writing a two-hour English Home Language and First Additional Language Paper 1, and a two-and-half hour English Second Additional Language.

“We want to wish all our matriculants good luck during their final exams, we thank them for their hard work and dedication throughout their schooling years…this is the opening of a door to a new chapter in their lives as they close the chapter of their secondary education,” said Mokonyane. 

Except for incidents of power outages at examination centres in the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, the start of the practical exams on Monday went well.