UMALUSI has given the green light for the start of the 2023 matric exams.
This year, more than 720 000 candidates, both part-time and full-time, will sit for matric exams.
The exams are scheduled to begin on 30 October and last until 5 December.
Umalusi CEO Mafu Rakometsi urged communities to jealously guard matric exams and not use them as a means of protest.
"Communities must stop using the exams as leverage. Please protect the matric exams jealously," Rakometsi said.
ALSO READ: Minister told to pull up her socks
On the issue of load shedding, he said Department of Education has procured generators to help with power outages during exams that require electricity, such as ICT.
Umalusi expressed concern over the mushrooming of fake online schools.
Rakometsi said most of the online schools started mushrooming after the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said they are still waiting for policy guidelines to show them how to deal with these schools.
Rakometsi also pointed to the increase in reported cases of fake certificates being sold to unsuspecting citizens.
He said Umalusi has developed security features that will make it difficult for fraudsters to duplicate and sell high school certificates to unsuspecting victims.
Rakometsi is also concerned about candidates who register at unregistered schools.
He said candidates who are unsure about the registration status of the school must visit the Umalusi website for help.
