Matric Results Will Be Published: Education Department Defies Regulator In Legal Showdown

Despite an ongoing legal dispute with the Information Regulator, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has confirmed that the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results will be published in newspapers next week.

The announcement comes as the regulator prepares to challenge a recent court ruling that cleared the department to continue publishing matric results in a pseudonymised format.

2025 Matric Results to Be Published Next Week

The DBE confirmed that the 2025 matric results will be officially released on 12 January 2026 by Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube, alongside Deputy Minister Dr Reginah Mhaule.

The results will then be “made available” to accredited newspapers for publication on 13 January 2026.

According to the department, the results will follow the same format used in recent years, displaying only examination numbers and results, with no names, surnames or identity numbers included.

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“In line with our commitment to the rule of law, the Department of Basic Education is of the view that it is legally obliged to publish the results in this pseudonymised format, as the court order granted on 18 January 2022 expressly requires this approach. This order remains in force.

“The publication of NSC results in accredited newspapers has long been an important and accessible method for learners and parents to obtain results timeously,” the department said.

The DBE said this approach balances accessibility with the protection of learners’ personal information.

Legal Battle Heads to Supreme Court of Appeal

The confirmation comes amid an escalating legal battle with the Information Regulator.

Last week, the regulator approached the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) seeking leave to appeal a North Gauteng High Court ruling delivered in Pretoria.

On 12 December 2025, the Gauteng High Court dealt the regulator a setback when it ruled that publishing matric results using only examination numbers adequately protects learners’ privacy.

Acting Judge Mark Morgan dismissed the regulator’s arguments as “fanciful” and compared its position to “a poorly constructed thought experiment”.

He ruled decisively in favour of the Education Department, rejecting claims that the practice violated the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

“The regulator’s stance does not reflect events in the real world. It would be a very unusual learner who, having prepared for examinations, having spent weeks sitting for various papers, and having spent weeks awaiting results, would care to recall who sat next to the learner during examinations, work out from the sequence of examination numbers, and then have thoughts about how that other learner performed in the examinations,” Morgan said.

DBE Rejects Appeal Bid but Affirms Respect for Regulator

The Information Regulator has argued that the High Court introduced a “new concept” in its interpretation of POPIA, referring to what it called “the so-called personally identifiable information which is not provided for in the [POPIA]”.

In its SCA application, the regulator claimed that parties were not given an opportunity to make submissions on this interpretation, arguing that this violated their right to a fair hearing.

However, the DBE has confirmed it will oppose the application for leave to appeal.

“This opposition is pursued in the best interests of learners, their families, and the education sector. The Department remains firmly of the view that the application has no reasonable prospects of success, given the clarity already provided by the courts,” the department said.

On Wednesday, the department stressed that it holds the highest respect for the Office of the Information Regulator and its constitutional role.

“The Department’s opposition to the application for leave to appeal should not be interpreted as a lack of respect for the Information Regulator. On the contrary, the Department values the Regulator’s role and looks forward to continued and constructive engagement.”

The DBE said it remains committed to legal compliance, learner protection, transparency and accessibility, while ensuring the dignity and rights of every learner are respected.

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