The Second Chance Matric Support Programme (SCMSP) is aimed at candidates who have not met the requirements to attain the National Senior Certificate (NSC) or the extended Senior Certificate (SC) examinations. The Programme also offers an opportunity to those who would like to improve their results.
Dr Sandy Malapile, Director for the SCMSP explained that, “approximately 400,000 learners have been assisted through the Programme, which plays an important role in retaining learners beyond the formal schooling programme. Candidates are able to register for one, two or more subjects, and write the examinations either in May/June or October/November 2023. Registered learners are supported through four platforms: broadcast on both TV and radio; access to digital educational resources; the provision of printed Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM); and face-to-face classes in selected centres throughout the country. Teaching and learning take place after hours and over weekends and learners can migrate within provinces to continue with their studies, irrespective of the province they have relocated to. Registration for the Department of Basic Education’s Second Chance Matric Support Programme will close on 8 February 2023”.
Initially, the SCMSP catered for mainstream learners; however, the Programme has been expanded to accommodate learners with disabilities starting with the Blind, Deaf and Partially sighted. The provinces visited towards the end of 2022, include Gauteng, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal with plans underway to expand the Programme in 2023. The weeklong educational camps are conducted monthly during school holidays and camps are held at Special Schools with qualified teachers. Study Camps were scheduled during the school holidays as part of the DBE’s extra-curricular activities to offer differentiated support programmes geared towards identified part-time learners.
Dr Malapile added that the expansion of the Programme to youth with special needs, is a clear demonstration that Government is implementing principle number 8 of the Freedom Charter: “The Doors of Learning and Culture shall be opened as the project brings dignity to learners with special needs who are not attending school full-time. The monitoring of the SCMSP camps will be intensified during 2023.
Those who are older and/or those who have not had the opportunity to complete matric due to various reasons, as well as those who do not qualify for higher education can register at Community Education and Training (CET) colleges across the country. According to the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation website, these colleges are supported by 200 community learning centres. The colleges offer training and academic learning opportunities, including the General Education and Training Certificate for adults (GETC), courses in computer literacy and applied agriculture.
To register for the SCMSP, online applications can be submitted to www.eservices.gov.za or candidates can visit any provincial Department of Education office with an ID document and a statement of results.