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In Conversation With Acting Director – Communication and Research: Terence Khala (Dept. Basic Education)

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After another record matric pass rate in South Africa, young learners continue to face challenges when their results don’t meet their academic or career goals. Data from organisations supporting matric rewrites shows that about 8 out of 10 learners who rewrite their exams significantly improve their marks, opening doors to higher education access and better job prospects. 
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) offers learners the opportunity to rewrite selected matric subjects through programmes such as the Second Chance Matric Programme, which allows learners who did not achieve their desired results — or who missed exams — to return and improve their performance. 
These second-chance opportunities are crucial in a country where access to higher education and meaningful employment is still tightly linked to matric results. Improved marks can increase learners’ confidence, eligibility for university or college admission, and qualification for bursaries or learnerships. 
Yet, rewriting matric is not without its challenges. It can be stressful, time-consuming and costly; and success is not guaranteed for every candidate. 
Today we speak with a representative from the Department of Basic Education to unpack the policy behind retracing assessments, the support available for learners, and how the education system ensures that rewrite opportunities are fair, accessible and effective.
26 Jan English South Africa Entertainment News · Music Interviews

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