The frustrating reality

The Mail & Guardian spoke to several pupils who wrote supplementary exams last year and none of them knew about the Second Chance programme.

Three grade 12 teachers also said pupils writing supplementary exams are left to their own devices.

A Free State pupil who wrote supplementary exams last year said he studied on his own. He had reached out to his former teachers for help, but never got any because they were always busy.

“I would get help from friends, but it was hard and I felt discouraged because I did not have anywhere to go for help. I failed in the end. I’m thinking of trying again but, with no help, I don’t know whether things will be better this time.”

Another pupil from the Eastern Cape said the only information he received from his school was that he qualified for a supplementary exam, but it was never pointed out where he should go to get extra classes or any learning material.

“It’s not easy studying on your own. You study for five minutes and, when you don’t understand something, you leave it and end up not studying for that day because you don’t even know where you can go for assistance,” the pupil said.

He said he also failed his supplementary exams and has lost all hope that he would get his matric certificate. He now works as a herder to make ends meet. — Bongekile Macupe