South Africa’s national education departments are preparing for the upcoming November/December 2025 NSC marking session and the June 2026 Senior Certificate marking session.
Applications for Examination Assistants (EAs), who assist with marking at designated centres, are opening across provinces with varying windows. Here’s what applicants in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State, and Limpopo should know:
Eastern Cape
While outside your requested provinces, the Eastern Cape provides a clear benchmark. It officially opened applications on Monday, 7 April 2025 at 08h00, with an unspecified closing date in that document.
Gauteng Province
Gauteng’s online application portal opened on 12 August 2024 and closed on 25 August 2024 for the 2025 marking season, meaning its application cycle is already complete for this round. Those dates suited markers for both Provincial Examination Assistant and Quality Assurer positions.
Candidates hoping for future cycles should anticipate similar mid‑year windows opening between August and September of any given year.
Mpumalanga Province
Although a formal public opening date was not located online, regional sources (such as social media updates) suggest applications for Mpumalanga’s marking assistant positions are currently open and a likely closing date around 25 June 2025, as observed in other provincial cycles
Applicants typically apply online, select only one marking centre, and submit certified ID, qualifications, and proof of student status or graduate eligibility.
Free State Province
Free State officially invited applications for Examination Assistants for the 2025 marking sessions, with a closing date of 23 May 2025.
Although the opening date wasn’t explicitly publicised, it’s implied that applications opened several weeks before the May deadline, likely in March or April 2025, based on standard departmental cycles.
Limpopo Province
Precise opening and closing dates for Limpopo have not been formally published online. However, social media reports and job posts indicate that applications for marking assistants may already be open, with deadlines likely falling in late May or June 2025
Based on patterns in other provinces, Limpopo’s application window may span from April to June 2025.
Provincial Marking Centres
While the exact number and names of marking centres may vary from year to year, here are a few prominent examples from across provinces:
Gauteng Province
- Ekurhuleni East TVET College – Benoni Campus, Northmead, Benoni
- Ekurhuleni East TVET College – Springs Campus, corner Plantation & Gold Streets, Springs
- South West Gauteng College – Roodepoort Campus, 3 Webber Avenue, Horizon View, Roodepoort
- Tshwane South TVET College – Centurion Campus, College Lane, Lyttleton
- Tshwane South TVET College – Pretoria West Campus, 150 Industrial Road, Pretoria West.
Mpumalanga Province
- Ehlanzeni TVET College – Nelspruit Campus, corner Koraalboom & Kaapsehoop Avenues, West Acres, Nelspruit
- Nkangala TVET College – Mpondozankomo Campus, 1 Schonland Drive, Ferrobank, Witbank.
Free State Province
- Motheo TVET College – Hillsideview Campus, Kholo Street, Mangaung, Bloemfontein
- Motheo TVET College – Bloemfontein Campus, St George Street, Bloemfontein.
Limpopo Province
- Capricorn TVET College – Polokwane Campus, corner College & Dorp Streets, Polokwane
- Capricorn TVET College – Seshego Campus, 1919 Freedom Drive, Seshego Zone 3.
NOTE:
- These centres are typically where examination marking assistants and markers report during the national marking sessions.
- The number of centres per province may vary by year depending on marker volume.
- These centres are associated with TVET colleges, which serve as logistical hubs during marking.
Eligibility & Application Process
Across all four provinces, the process for applying as an Examination Assistant is generally consistent:
- Only one marking centre selection is allowed per application
- Applicants must be South African citizens, full‑time tertiary students (2nd year or higher) or unemployed teacher graduates, aged approximately 18–35, with required numeracy/mathematics at matric level
- Employed individuals, current interns, and previous exam assistants (e.g., 2021–2023) are generally not eligible
- Required documents include green bar‑coded ID, Proof of tertiary registration or qualifications, and certified copies of ID and academic transcripts.
- Online submission only; no fax/email or hand‑delivered applications accepted
- Shortlisted candidates participate in an online competency test, and final selection is communicated via email, SMS, or phone.
- Working hours are typically 08h00–20h00 daily, including weekends, with meals provided but no transport or accommodation.
- Employment terms follow Personnel Administrative Measures (PAM) rates; no overtime or leave during the session.
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