Supplementary exams - week to register

2011-01-17 17:44

Johannesburg - Matriculants who qualify to write supplementary exams have a week left in which to register, the department of basic education said on Monday.

The 2010 matriculants had until January 24 to register at the school or centre where they sat their final exams last year, spokesperson Granville Whittle said in a statement.

"Learners should consider the opportunity to improve on their performance in particular subjects, or to have a chance to rewrite subjects that they failed in the NSC (National Senior Certificate) examinations of 2010.

"Learners who are eligible to write supplementary examinations are those who meet the minimum promotion and certification requirements in the final examination, but need two subjects to obtain their National Senior Certificate," he said.

Other candidates eligible to write supplementary exams included:

- those who could prove they were "medically unfit" during the final exams. This included those who had documents proving there was a death in their immediate family, or other special reasons for their absence;

- those who qualified for admission to a higher education institution, but were one requirement short of satisfying the requirements;

- those who could provide the head of the assessment body with a written report from their school principal on reasons, other than illness or injury, that rendered them unable to write one or more of their exams; and,

- those who were waiting for investigations into an irregularity to be finalised.

Whittle said those who had failed their matric exams and did not qualify for a supplementary exam had to re-enrol at a school, provided they were under the age of 21.

Those older than 21 had to register as private candidates, or enrol at adult education centres. Alternatively, they could explore various vocational options.

"These young people should not give up now, but should take responsibility to make use of every opportunity available to them to improve their life chances.

"They should therefore take advantage of all the options our department has made available and all the practical assistance that the provincial departments are also offering," Whittle said.

- SAPA