What to do if your child doesn’t secure a matric exemption

Last updated on 19th November, 2024 at 09:29 am

There’s never been more pressure to perform than today – especially for our children. This is why failing to qualify for university can be especially difficult for young people and their parents. But while it may feel overwhelming, many options are still available.

Reading time: 5 minutes

In this article, you’ll learn:

• How to navigate failure
• Options for children who haven’t qualified for university
• The costs involved for the different options

As a parent, it’s only natural to feel anxious if your child fails to obtain a matric exemption. It’s important to remember, though, that the world is rapidly evolving, and a university degree isn’t the only way to secure a bright and prosperous future for your child.

Cultivating the right mindset

Thobeka Phanyeko, a life coach, NLP practitioner and founder of A New Dawn Life Coaching, suggests ways in which families can overcome the initial shock of disappointing matric results, and how to navigate a productive way forward.

“Failure can be stressful for anyone, and poor matric results especially so,” says Phanyeko. “As a parent, your role is to support your child while expressing disappointment in a way that doesn’t diminish their spirit. “She suggests separating their actions from their worth, affirming that your love and support are unconditional.

“Reframe failure in your home. Instead of seeing it as a dead end, view it as feedback. Ask, ‘What is this situation teaching me? What could I have done better?’ How you handle disappointment teaches your child valuable lessons for the future. Once you’ve achieved the right mindset, you’re ready to tackle the way forward.”

Option A: Explore post-schooling education

Many lucrative and exciting careers can be built by attending colleges or training facilities that offer certificates and diplomas. These institutions offer courses in many in-demand fields, from investigations and forensics, to bookkeeping and accounting, project management and more. These reputable institutions accept students without a matric exemption:

• Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) colleges
• Skills Academy
• Matric College
• Bellview Institute

Cost: Different courses and institutions vary in price, so you can expect to pay anything from R2 000 to R20 000 per year (in the case of individual subjects, or TVET college courses). Many of these are structured around part-time, correspondence or night-class options, meaning it’s possible to subsidise the cost with part-time work, which is also a great way to gain experience.

Option B: Rewrite matric

Your child also has the option of redoing the subjects they either failed or performed poorly in through the Second Chance Matric Programme. There are different ways of approaching this: you could work through the information given by the Department of Education, or you can rely on a support institution or private agency to assist with the administration, as well as additional resources.

Costs: This will vary depending on what subjects are being rewritten and the approach you choose in doing so. For instance, it’s completely free if you work through the Department of Education yourself, whereas private institutions can charge up to R5 000 per subject.

Bonus reading: Learn about the critical skills that can help to guide your child’s career path, plus how to set healthy academic goals and rewards.