Matric isn’t the only way to get the skills necessary to support yourself
● Is school dropout and billionaire Richard Branson a good role model for young people?
Most would say yes — despite the fact that Branson quit school at the age of 16 — because Branson makes money and has triumphed over dyslexia.
Not all young people who find school difficult due to dyslexia, attention deficit disorder or other learning difficulties will end up owning an island and running a multinational company, but that does not mean they cannot look forward to a meaningful career.
Educational psychologist Heidi Bome is concerned about those children who end up being the square pegs in the round holes of the education system.
“Matric isn’t essential,” says Bome, but adds that it is important to have some qualification or tertiary education.
“Some people are not made for the world of academia, but they are brilliant at a trade. I always tell young adults to empower themselves with the skills or education that enable them to earn a living and that inspire them.”
Young people who “are really not cut out for school” can leave in Grade 9 or at age 16, says Bome. “In these cases these young people are better off seeking a vocation that appeals to them, excites them and will sustain them in the future.”
Peter van Nieuwenhuizen, chief financial officer of the Growth Institute, a private further education and training provider, says not having a matric need not bar you from tertiary education.
The institute has a financial accounting programme that students can register for with only a Grade 10, while its business management, entrepreneurship, and tourism and hospitality programmes require students to have only a Grade 11.
Michelle Seko, talent acquisition manger at accounting and payroll systems firm Sage for Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, says: “You will struggle to find employment without at least a good matric pass. It’s even better if you have a degree or other tertiary qualification.”
But she concedes that a combination of short courses and on-the-job training can be the answer for those without matric. “It will help you to develop new skills, certifications and expertise, backed up by practical experience.”