Director: Public Examination Vacancy 2026 at the Department of Basic Education

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has advertised a senior management opportunity for the position of Director: Public Examination in Pretoria. This role is suited to an experienced education professional with a strong background in assessment, examinations and strategic management.

The successful candidate will help oversee important aspects of South Africa’s National Senior Certificate and Senior Certificate examinations. In addition, the director will support examination quality assurance, question paper development, marking processes and the management of examination irregularities. Therefore, applicants should have substantial leadership experience and a sound understanding of the national education assessment system.

The position carries an all-inclusive annual remuneration package of R1,317,384. However, the role also comes with significant responsibilities, including coordinating examination activities across provincial education departments and maintaining the integrity of public examinations.

About the Director: Public Examination Position

The Directorate: Public Examinations plays an important role in coordinating national examination activities. Its responsibilities include supporting the development of examination question papers, improving the quality of assessment and ensuring that marking processes follow appropriate standards.

Furthermore, the director will help coordinate the implementation of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Senior Certificate (SC) examinations across all nine Provincial Education Departments. This requires effective planning, communication and cooperation with education stakeholders.

Because the position is at director level, the successful applicant will also be expected to provide strategic leadership, manage programmes and support the achievement of departmental objectives. Consequently, this is a senior professional opportunity rather than an entry-level education position.

Minimum Requirements

Applicants should carefully assess their qualifications and experience before pursuing this opportunity. According to the supplied vacancy information, candidates must meet the following requirements:

• An appropriate NQF Level 7 qualification, as recognised by SAQA, in Education or a related field.
• A postgraduate qualification will be an added advantage.
• At least five years of experience at middle or senior management level.
• Of that management experience, at least three years must be in education assessment and examinations.
• A valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel.

In addition to these formal requirements, candidates need sound knowledge of curriculum policies and assessment policies. They should also understand the National Senior Certificate examination system, including question paper development, moderation, standardisation, quality assurance, marking and examination monitoring.

Moreover, applicants should be familiar with examination policies and the handling of examination irregularities. Experience in leading complex projects and working with multiple stakeholders will also be relevant to the responsibilities of the post.

Knowledge of Legislation and Examination Policies

The role requires an understanding of legislation and regulations that govern public examinations. Specifically, the supplied requirements refer to the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act, 2001, and the Regulations Pertaining to the Conduct, Administration and Management of the NSC Examinations.

Applicants should also have knowledge of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999, as well as other relevant prescripts governing public examination administration. Therefore, candidates should be able to apply policy and legislative requirements when managing examination programmes and departmental resources.

In addition, the position calls for an understanding of financial management, programme management and strategic planning. These competencies are important because national examinations involve coordination, quality control and accountability across several institutions.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The Director: Public Examination will manage and coordinate the activities of the Directorate: Public Examinations. The main duties include the following responsibilities.

1. Coordinate Question Paper Development

The director will facilitate the setting of high-quality Grade 12 question papers for the National Senior Certificate and Senior Certificate examinations. This involves supporting processes that help maintain the quality and standard of national assessments.

Furthermore, the director will need to support effective coordination with the people involved in examination development. Careful oversight is important because examination papers must align with the relevant curriculum and assessment requirements.

2. Strengthen Assessment Quality Assurance

Another key responsibility is enhancing the national quality assurance system for Grade 12 school-based assessment. This work supports consistent assessment practices and helps strengthen confidence in the examination system.

In addition, the director will contribute to maintaining appropriate quality standards. As a result, strong policy knowledge, sound judgement and effective management will be important in carrying out these duties.

3. Improve Marking Standards

The position includes facilitating high-quality and standardised marking for the National Senior Certificate and Senior Certificate examinations across marking centres. The director will also support the piloting of electronic marking, commonly known as e-marking.

Consequently, the successful candidate should understand the importance of consistency and quality assurance during marking. The role also requires coordination to support the implementation of agreed examination standards.

4. Coordinate Provincial Examination Implementation

The director will support and coordinate the implementation of the NSC and SC examinations across all nine Provincial Education Departments. This responsibility requires communication and collaboration with provincial officials and other relevant stakeholders.

Meanwhile, effective planning and monitoring will help support the smooth administration of examination activities. The director must also be able to identify challenges and contribute to appropriate solutions.

5. Manage Examination Irregularities

Protecting the integrity of the National Senior Certificate is another important responsibility. The director will manage examination irregularities and contribute to strengthening processes designed to protect the credibility of public examinations.

Therefore, applicants should appreciate the importance of following established procedures, maintaining accurate records and dealing with examination-related concerns responsibly.

6. Strengthen Communication

The director will also contribute to strengthening communication in relation to public examinations. This includes working with stakeholders such as provincial education departments, examiners, moderators and Umalusi.

In addition, clear communication supports coordination between the different parties involved in national assessment. Strong stakeholder relationships can help ensure that examination processes are understood and implemented consistently.

Core and Process Competencies

The vacancy information identifies several competencies required for effective performance. These include:

• Strategic capability and leadership.
• Programme and project management.
• Financial management.
• Knowledge management.
• People management and empowerment.
• Communication, innovation and creativity.
• Service delivery innovation.
• Report writing.
• Problem solving and analysis.
• Client orientation and customer focus.

Furthermore, candidates should have proven project management, strategic leadership and stakeholder liaison skills. These abilities are particularly relevant when coordinating national examination programmes involving multiple departments and professional groups.

Salary and Employment Conditions

The advertised remuneration package is R1,317,384 per annum, inclusive of the applicable package components. This is a senior management position with responsibilities extending across national examination processes.

However, candidates should review the official advertisement for the full terms and conditions of employment. The supplied notice also states that the successful candidate must sign an annual performance agreement and disclose their financial interests every year.

In addition, the successful candidate will be subject to security clearance through the State Security Agency before assuming duty. Applicants should therefore be prepared to undergo the required vetting process.

How to Prepare an Application

Before applying, candidates should locate the complete official Department of Basic Education advertisement and confirm the prescribed application procedure. The reference number is DBE/74/2026, which applicants can use to identify the correct post when checking the official notice.

Next, review the qualification and experience requirements carefully. Applicants should ensure that their qualifications meet the stated NQF Level 7 requirement and that their management experience includes the required period in education assessment and examinations.

It is also useful to prepare clear information about relevant leadership experience, examination administration, policy knowledge and stakeholder coordination. Nevertheless, applicants must follow the official instructions regarding application documents and submission methods rather than relying on assumptions.

Enquiries About the Vacancy

Applicants who require further information can use the enquiry contacts listed in the supplied vacancy details:

• Ms N Monyela: (012) 357 3294
• Mr M Segowa: (012) 357 4291

When making an enquiry, mention the position title and reference number DBE/74/2026. This can help the relevant office identify the vacancy being discussed. However, these telephone numbers are provided for enquiries and should not be treated as an application submission method.

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