Life After Matric in South Africa 

Life after matric is a whole different world and situation for school-leavers. It could be a great opening for opportunities for some, while it could be trying time for others.

What should I do with my life after matric?

After matric, lots of thoughts come to your mind, questions like what careers, universities or colleges to enroll in or for, while for some it may be the most confusing time and the pressure to make a decision that will affect the rest of your life is weighing you down like a ton of bricks. Basically, based on experience there is no manual to life, you could plan perfectly and still not get it right, so it’s advisable to have a lot of options and an open mind.

The following are some of the things you can do after matric:

Prepare for Tertiary Education:

Many school-leavers after matric have ambitions to enroll in university or college for diplomas, certificates or degrees. In order to get an admission, to most tertiary institutions, you need atleast three subjects passed on higher grade, even various institutions have their individual requirements.

Rewrite your matric

Provided, you have set your goal to study further, but your matric marks just aren’t good enough or even if you were admitted  but you can’t get into a particular course because of that dratted D for your chosen course. You might need to settle for another matric in order to give you a better chance of entrance.

Getting a Job

Howbeit, not everyone would or wants to go school to study, intentionally or unintentionally, probably due to financial capacity. Nonetheless, you need to know that most decent jobs require some level of formal qualification.

Taking a Gap year

Provided you are all schooled out and need some time to clear your mind, why not take a gap year, a popular option among those who don’t want to be tied down immediately after matriculating. You could take some time off learning something or even travelling, experiences cultures and many more.

Learning and Working

For those, who really want to study but have some difficulties, which could vary from financial, distance, or others. The first possibility is studying through correspondence, via a distance-learning institution such as UNISA. Another way is to apply for a learnership with one of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), whereby you will earn a small salary while you are studying and learning on the job. You can fulfill both dreams in this way.

What are the factors to consider in selecting a college or university in South Africa?

The following are some tips for choosing a suitable college or university:

• Make sure your intended degree, diploma or certificate has been approved by the South African Qualifications Authority.
• Ensure the institution is registered and accredited with the Department of Higher Education via Umalusi, which is responsible for maintaining quality and standards. Publicly funded FET colleges do not require accreditation from Umalusi, but private colleges do.
• Find out how highly regarded its qualifications are in the industry in which you intend to work.
• Compare the costs of studying at various institutions and make sure you can afford to complete your studies.
• Choose a campus that’s well equipped with libraries and offers an environment conducive to studying.

What qualification do you get after matric in South Africa?

Depending on what you want to study after matric next year, there are few different options open to you. You could study a degree, a diploma, a higher certificate, or national senior certificate at a university, university of technology, private college, or other higher institute of education.

What is the pass mark in South Africa?

In South Africa, for the final standard exams, a ‘normal pass’ is given for an average mark 50%-59%, and a distinction is given for an average of 80% or more.