The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has revealed that the 2022 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results will be provided to matric candidates on Friday, 20 January 2023.
As the Grade 12 class of 2022 eagerly await the release of their final examinations results, many are hoping to pass without a bump in the road.
But, for others, the possibility of rewriting their exams is very real. Some may be required to rewrite in order to obtain their NSC, while others may want to improve their marks.
There is eagerness from this group of matrics to get their desired results the first time around, but the reality is that many will be using the second chance matric programme provided by the department to rewrite some subjects.
Research conducted by Youth Capital Campaigns suggests that around 250 000 matric learners will "go at it [the rewrites] alone", as they are not fully aware of the rewrite process.
The Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP) allows individuals to rewrite their matric examinations while being provided with support from the DBE. But, support from families and friends is also needed and is just as important.
Although there is determination to rewrite and succeed, many learners aren't aware of the steps that need to be taken when it comes to registering for the rewrites and are also without the resources to properly prepare.
"As eager as they may be, most of them might not have access to a textbook that they can use to prepare for the exam. There's also the issue around the cost of transport, for example, to travel to a district office where they can register," explains Lethiwe Nkosi, Youth Capital Network Mobilizer.
Ordinary South Africans, along with government, can provide better support to candidates who are rewriting, by helping them find the textbooks or past papers they'll need to prepare, or simply helping them to navigate the online platform where registration can take place.
Nkosi's advice is that bit of support can make a difference and won't leave candidates stranded and/or struggling.
The matric certificate carries quite a bit of weight in South Africa today, due to the economic and severe youth unemployment situation the country finds itself in.
Although obtaining an NSC certificate is important, the number of learners who drop out of school before reaching matric is alarming.
Studies suggest that learners who drop out of school prematurely experience a lack of access to higher education and fewer job opportunities than learners who complete basic education schooling.
"We've observed that a matric certificate remains an important signifier that a young person is indeed employable; I understand the argument is often that you do have young people with a matric certificate who are unemployed, but we have seen through research and talking to young people, that with a matric certificate, a young person can apply for an entry-level job, get their foot in the door, which will increase their likelihood of staying employed. So yes, a matric certificate is still important," says Nkosi.
