Education experts encouraged 2019 matrics who failed, didn’t perform optimally or didn’t get the results they needed to pursue their chosen field of study, to look at alternate methods for desired results.
“Remember that this is not the end of the road, and that some extra work will be required,” said Horace Mpanza, MD of ADvTECH Schools’ Abbotts College High School.
“You can rectify the situation and still pursue your professional dreams down the line, even if it is a little later than you had hoped.
“It is better to make the time and effort now, and start from a position of strength a few months or a year down the line, than to resign yourself to forever having results that won’t do you any favours in the job market.”
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Mpanza provided six alternate methods:
Redo matric
A Grade 12 learner may opt to redo their entire year so that they can improve all of their marks.
This is a good option for those learners who did not perform well enough to qualify for studying towards their chosen qualification.
Redo matric and upgrade some subjects
Grade 12 learners who only need higher marks in some of their subjects do not need to redo all of their subjects. Instead, they can enrol on a part-time basis for one to six subjects.
Write supplementary papers later in the year
“This is an option, but one that should be considered carefully,” Mpanza says.
Do a bridging course
A bridging course can be done through a tertiary institution.
Elbie Liebenberg, Managing Director of Oxbridge Academy, said additional options open to learners are to complete matric through distance learning, or pursue a vocational qualification.
According to Liebenberg, there are more than 20 000 South African distance-learning students every year.
“No matter what the outcome of your final exams were, there are always options, and sometimes finding the right way forward, for your specific circumstances and aspirations, just requires some research,” she says.
Matric through distance learning
The benefit of doing matric subject rewrites or your entire matric via distance learning is that it is affordable and can be done from the comfort of your own home.
Vocational training
“A vocational qualification makes you more employable, by providing the specific skills and theoretical knowledge required in fields such as, for instance, office management, childcare, small business management, hospitality and catering services,” she explained.
“All of the aforementioned qualifications can be completed without having a matric certificate and via distance learning, which means that you can even start earning while you’re learning.”
