It’s a wrap for matrics, but deadlines loom
AS MATRIC exams wrap up this week, many school-leavers will be looking to start planning for the next phase of their lives. About 796 542 candidates, made of up fulltime and part-time pupils, sat for their final exams over the past few weeks across the country
In the Northern Cape, the majority of Grade 12 pupils will be writing their last exam – English paper 3 – today, while the last matric paper will be written two days later with agricultural management practices and dance.
Minister of Education Angie Motshekga is expected to announce the national and provincial results on January 3, while schools and candidates will receive their results the following day, with the names printed in newspapers on Saturday, January 5.
Another looming deadline for matrics is Friday for students seeking financial aid from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for next year.
The last cycle for applications opened in September, with more than 262 000 applications received.
“During the evaluation process a total of 44 702 applications with missing supporting documents were detected. NSFAS has since communicated to these applicants to submit the required documents before the closing date,” said NSFAS’s Kagisho Mamabolo.
“We will continue to send out communications through the course of the application cycle … We call on all young South Africans who have not yet applied for 2019 financial aid to submit their online applications or visit their nearest National Youth Development Agency centres before the closing date.”
And with universities and TVET colleges expected to reopen in late January, first-year students have been encouraged to make sure their applications for funding have been secured ahead of time.
“Undergraduate applicants who need financial assistance must submit their applications on the NSFAS online application system,” said spokesperson Elijah Moholola.