Gauteng Department of Education Hiring 1,537 Examination Assistants and Quality Assurers for 2026 Examination Marking Season

The Gauteng Department of Education is recruiting 277 Examination Assistants and 1,260 Quality Assurers for the 2026 examination marking season. Applications are open from 26 August to 8 September 2026 for students, graduates, and unemployed qualified individuals.

Gauteng Department of Education Opens 1,537 Temporary Opportunities for Examination Assistants and Quality Assurers

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has announced a major recruitment drive for the 2026 examination marking season, creating 1,537 temporary employment opportunities for qualifying candidates across the province.

The recruitment campaign includes 277 Examination Assistant positions and 1,260 Quality Assurer positions, making it one of the largest seasonal government recruitment initiatives currently available in Gauteng.

The opportunities are aimed at tertiary students, unemployed graduates, and unemployed individuals who possess relevant academic qualifications and meet the specified requirements. Successful applicants will play a critical role in supporting the administration, processing, quality assurance, and management of examination scripts during the National Senior Certificate examination marking process.

Applications officially opened on 26 August 2026 and will close on 8 September 2026.

Supporting the Integrity of Gauteng’s Examination System

Every year, thousands of examination scripts are processed, marked, verified, and archived across Gauteng. To ensure that this process is conducted accurately and efficiently, the Department of Education recruits temporary staff to assist with examination administration and quality assurance functions.

These positions provide candidates with an opportunity to gain valuable administrative experience while contributing to one of the most important educational processes in South Africa.

The department has emphasized its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly regarding race, gender, and disability. Qualified individuals from all designated groups are encouraged to apply.

277 Examination Assistant Positions Available

The Department is recruiting 277 Examination Assistants to support district offices and Head Office examination operations.

Opportunities are available across multiple education districts, including:

• Gauteng North
• Gauteng West
• Gauteng East
• Tshwane North
• Tshwane South
• Tshwane West
• Ekurhuleni North
• Ekurhuleni South
• Sedibeng East
• Sedibeng West
• Johannesburg Central
• Johannesburg East
• Johannesburg North
• Johannesburg South
• Johannesburg West
• Head Office

Successful candidates will be responsible for managing examination scripts and ensuring that scripts are accurately received, processed, controlled, scanned, packed, dispatched, and archived.

The role requires a high level of attention to detail because examination documents must be handled according to strict procedures and deadlines.

1,260 Quality Assurer Opportunities at Marking Centres

In addition to Examination Assistant positions, the Department is recruiting an impressive 1,260 Quality Assurers to work at marking centres throughout Gauteng.

These positions will be based at various schools designated as official marking centres, including:

• Alberton High School
• Allen Glen High School
• Bryanston High School
• Florida High School
• Ferndale High School
• Greenside High School
• Mondeor High School
• Parktown Boys High School
• Queens High School
• Rand Girls High School
• Rand Park Ridge High School
• UJ Metropolitan High School
• Hoërskool Garsfontein
• Hoërskool President
• Hoërskool Alberton
• Hoërskool Birchleigh
• Hoërskool Dinamika
• Hoërskool Elspark
• Hoërskool Florida
• Hoërskool Voortrekker
• Nokuthula Special School
• Sir John Adamson High School
• Bracken High School

Quality Assurers play a crucial role in maintaining the accuracy and consistency of examination marking processes.

Their responsibilities involve verifying scripts, checking marks, identifying discrepancies, confirming that all questions have been marked correctly, and ensuring that totals are accurately transferred to official marksheets.

What Examination Assistants Will Do

The Examination Assistant role focuses primarily on the management and control of examination scripts.

Successful candidates will assist with:

• Receiving examination scripts
• Checking and controlling script batches
• Scanning and packing scripts
• Dispatching scripts to marking centres
• Managing script records and control systems
• Addressing discrepancies in script batches
• Archiving marked scripts for future retrieval
• Creating and maintaining marking centre documentation

Because thousands of scripts pass through the system, accuracy and efficiency are essential.

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Responsibilities of Quality Assurers

Quality Assurers focus on ensuring that examination marking has been conducted correctly.

Key duties include:

• Receiving and distributing scripts to marking teams
• Controlling scripts during the marking process
• Checking marksheets and script totals
• Verifying that all questions have been marked
• Confirming that marks have been transferred correctly
• Identifying and resolving marking discrepancies
• Assisting with script scanning processes
• Reconciling script quantities after marking
• Organising scripts for archiving

This position is ideal for individuals with strong numerical abilities and excellent attention to detail.

Who Can Apply?

The Department has outlined clear eligibility requirements for both positions.

Applicants must possess:

• A Senior Certificate, National Senior Certificate, or National Senior Certificate Vocational qualification
• Strong numerical skills
• Mathematics or Accounting as a compulsory subject
• The ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines

The following groups are eligible to apply:

• Registered tertiary students
• Unemployed graduates
• Unemployed individuals with one or more tertiary qualifications

The Department has indicated that second-year students and above will receive preference due to their higher level of academic exposure.

Previous experience as an Examination Assistant, either at a marking centre or office-based environment, will also be advantageous.

Who Cannot Apply?

The Department has specifically excluded certain categories of applicants.

The following individuals will not be considered:

• Persons writing National Senior Certificate examinations in 2026
• Persons writing Senior Certificate examinations in 2026
• Persons writing AET examinations in 2026
• Individuals who have taken the Voluntary Severance Package (VSP)
• Individuals currently employed elsewhere

These restrictions are intended to avoid conflicts of interest and ensure availability throughout the examination period.

Skills Required for Success

Given the nature of examination administration, successful candidates should possess:

• Strong attention to detail
• Numerical accuracy
• Administrative skills
• Organisational ability
• Integrity and confidentiality
• Time management skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Problem-solving capability
• Teamwork and communication skills

The work environment is often fast-paced, particularly during peak examination processing periods.

Application Process

Interested candidates must submit their applications through the Gauteng Department of Education’s Examination Assistant e-Recruitment System.

Applicants should carefully select and quote the correct reference number corresponding to their preferred district office or marking centre.

Failure to provide the correct reference number may result in disqualification.

The application system also includes screening questions relating to:

• Matric qualifications
• Tertiary registration status
• Current year of study
• Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy results
• Accounting qualifications
• Previous Examination Assistant or Quality Assurer experience

Important Dates

Applicants should note the following key dates:

• Opening Date: 26 August 2026
• Closing Date: 8 September 2026
• Outcome Notification Deadline: 1 December 2026

Due to the expected volume of applications, the Department has advised that only electronic acknowledgements will be issued. Candidates who have not received feedback by 1 December 2026 should consider their applications unsuccessful.

A Valuable Opportunity for Students and Graduates

The Gauteng Department of Education’s recruitment of 1,537 Examination Assistants and Quality Assurers provides a significant opportunity for students, graduates, and unemployed qualified individuals seeking practical work experience and temporary employment.

Beyond the financial benefits, these positions offer exposure to large-scale educational administration processes, record management systems, quality assurance procedures, and government operations.

For individuals with strong administrative abilities, numerical skills, and attention to detail, these roles present an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience while contributing to the successful delivery of South Africa’s examination system.

With applications closing on 8 September 2026, interested candidates should ensure that they submit their applications before the deadline and select the correct reference number for their preferred location.

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