Association for Homeschooling

INTRODUCTION

Matric is the term generally used when referring to the qualification a learner obtains  when  the learner finishes their school training. A matric is often necessary to get a job or admission to further education, especially a matric with exemption.

In the past matric was under control of the heads of universities and the purpose of the matric was to set a standard according to which a person got admitted into university. With the acceptance of the new constitution in 1994, the control over matric was assigned to the minister of Education. The minister of Education changed the matric so that it not just prescribes the standard but also the content.  Hereby the matric became a mean through which the state’s political ideology could be transferred to the learners. Due to this, there is an growing demand for alternative routes to get a matric.

Within this dispensation there are primarily two ways to obtaining a matric:

• Through obtaining an academic matric (NSC , International)
• Through an occupational  course that is equivalent to a matric

There are limited possibilities to do the “old matric”, and in the future they are planning to enter an adult matric.

ACADEMIC MATRIC

The most common academic matric in South Africa, the National Senior Certificate (NSC) or grade 12 and the international Cambridge.

Obtaining the NSC

The way in which the final mark for the NSC is compiled, is as follows:

1. The final mark for the NSC consists of two components. The first component counts 25% and is the final marks of the internal assessment for grade 12.  The second component counts 75% and is the mark obtained in the NSC exam.
2. The final mark for the Life Orientation learning area is based on the final marks of the internal assessment. This internal assessment must be moderated externally by the Department of Education, the examination board and Umalusi.
3. In grade 12 all internal assessment must be moderated externally by the Department of Education, the examination board and Umalusi.
4. Learners who want to register for the NSC must meet the following requirements:
   • The learner must be registered at a public of private school who provides the NSC; and
   • The learner must meet all the requirements of the internal assessment; and
   • The learner must meet all the requirement to pass grade 10 and 11.
5. Learners must register for the NSC before or on the 15th March the year they writing the NSC exams.

As an interim arrangement  part time students can enrol  for the NSC if they are registered with a  curriculum provider who is registered at one of the examination boards. A list of curriculum providers who are registered are provided in the next section.

Here they should also comply with the passing requirement for grade 10 and grade 11. This can be done by enrolling at a curriculum provider from grade 10.  Alternatively there may be engaged with the examination board and negotiated with them about what the exam board shall deem sufficient that a learner pass the grade 10 and 11. If the parents can provide sufficient evidence the learner can be enrolled for the NSC.

Obtaining an international matric

Cambridge

The most commonly used international matric is the Cambridge matric. In South Africa, students can do two courses namely IGCSE (International General Certificate of Education) and AS Levels. In broad terms, the  Cambridge IGCSE qualificationis equivalent to a South AfricanGrade 10&11 and the Cambridge AS level equivalent to a South African Grade 12 ( i.e. regularMatric ).

IGCSE takes 18 months – 2 years to complete and is for students from 14 – 16 years of age. Your student will take 7 subjects on this level. Following this South African high school student do the AS Levels normally from about 16 - 19 years of age. This is also an 18 month – 2 year course. Your student will take 5 subjects on this level.

There are several curriculum suppliers in South Africa that prepare students for the Cambridge exam.

GED

The GED  (General Educational Development) tests is a group of five  subject  tests which,  when  passed,  is considered  equivalent  to  an  American High  School  Graduation  Diploma. The GED tests are easy to do well in and can be completed in five to six weeks (with five hours of studying per day for an average student).

The GED tests can be done at Prometric test centres in South Africa. Tests can be booked online through the Prometric website. Students can enroll with GED Academy, an online school that helps students to prepare for the GED tests.

SAT

SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Tests) is a standardized testing used in the USA for college admission. The SAT test does not provide the student with a qualification, but SAT scores may be required for university admission. There are two SAT type tests. SAT1 is the Reasoning Test that tests English Reading, Comprehension, Language and Writing, Maths (all except Trigonometry) and Critical Reasoning or Thinking. SAT2 are subject tests that students can take in a specific subject area. For example Physics, Chemistry, Biology Eng Lit, Spanish, etc.

SAT exams are administered by the College Board in the USA. These exams are provided in test centres in 175 countries, including South Africa. Students can register for SAT tests on the website of the College Board. The website also provides information on how to prepare for tests.

Curriculum providers who offer matric

The table below gives the details of curriculum providers that offer a matric.

Parents should take into account that learners enrolled with a curriculum provider registered with ERCO or CIE can write exams at exam centres across the country. If however the curriculum provider is registered with a provincial examination board then the exams can only be written in that province.

Further should parents consider that the Cambridge exams can only be taken in English while the NSC can be written in English or Afrikaans.

SAQA CAREER-ORIENTED COURSES

Vocational courses can be followed at a curriculum provider or technical college. The courses offered by these institutions must be registered with SETA (Skills Education Training Authority) and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

After learners have reached a grade 9 level they can start vocational courses. The course consists on average of 14 subjects per year. The course consists of fundamental, elective and core subjects. Fundamental subjects are generally formative subjects like mathematics and language subjects while the elective or core subjects are linked to the vocational qualification.

The pupil does these courses while they work in the same line of the course taken. The employer must give the pupil time to do the course and assessments. It is recommended that learners work without compensation in the first year (but thereafter the employer can if he sees fit pay minimum compensation per hour).

At the end of each year, the student does the practical exams at the assessment centre. After successful completion of the exams and evidence of practical experience is provided the trainee obtains a 2.3 or level 5 National Certificate from the relevant SETA(Skills Education Training Authority). Such a certificate is equivalent to grade 10, 11 or 12 of the NSC. If the certificate is submitted to Umalusi and Umalusi can issue a certificate equivalent to the NSC.

The tabel below provides the detail of curriculum providers or technical colleges that offer vocational courses. Parents must take into account that they must visit the assessment centre annually. For this reason the location of the assessment centre are given as well.

For more information on the various SETAs, visit the website www.vocational.co.za

Predominantly the vocational courses are in English but there are providers who are busy translating courses in Afrikaans.

Non-SAQA CAREER ORIENTED COURSES

There are a variety of vocational courses that are not registered with SAQA. These courses are not recognized by SAQA and cannot be used to obtain a matric. These courses are however recognized by the industry and can be used to get a job or start a own business. For these courses are mostly no admission requirements. Anyone who can afford the course fees, are computer literate and willing to work hard kan register for the course.

THE “OLD” MATRIC

The previous Senior Certificate was phased out with the implementing of the National Senior Certificate (NSC). Since the NSC is not suitable for distance learning (as it requires learners to be in  a registered school for  Gr. 10 – 12), the Department   for Basic Education moved the deadline for pre 2008 Senior certificate exams  to 2014. The opportunity to register for the Senior Certificate has been extended so that more learners can register for the exams. Currently this opportunity is just available for learners who are 21 years and older.

ADULT MATRIC

In March 2011, Umalusi, the agency responsible for the quality of matric in South Africa, submitted the National Senior Certificate for Adults (NSCA) qualification to the minister of higher education. This is a step on a long arduous road that still has to be walked.

The development of this qualification was started in 2008 by a former Education Minister Naledi Pandor to the millions of young people who are no longer in a school the opportunity to obtain a matric.

The introduction of the NSCA will make it easier for young people outside schools to obtain a matric. To obtain this qualification anyone over the age of 18 can write examinations in four subjects and a mark of more than 45% in all subjects. There are no admission requirements. Two of the subjects are compulsory (Language and Mathematics) and the other two are choice subjects (Human and Social Studies, Science, Economics and Management Science or an additional language). Candidates can write all their subjects in one exam session or in several sessions. Candidates can rewrite subjects in order to obtain a better mark. The qualification must be obtained within 6 years from the date of entry.

Umalusi is now finished with its part of the NSCA, but there is still much work to be done by the department of higher education. They need to set up a curriculum framework as well as  a policy for  the administration of the exams and establish an examination board. There are currently plans to implement the NSCA in 2014. But is seems as if there is no hurry in the department of higher education on implementing the NSCA. Some experts believe that the qualification may never be implemented.

The NSCA can liberate home learners from the requirement of gr. 10,11 and 12 at a curriculum provider who is enrolled at aan examination board. Home learners can easily do what interest them up to the age of 18 and then obtain the NSCA.

ADMISSION TO UNIVERSITY

To obtain admission to a university, there must be adhered to the  following requirements:

1. Comply with the general requirements  set by the Committee of University Principals; and
2. The entrance tests of the university must be passed (for the MBChB course, Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, B.Sc. in Physiotherapy and B.Sc. in Dietetics to National Health Science – Placement test are written); and
3. Comply with the requirements of the specific faculty requirements.
4. Some universities have a limitation in the number of students admitted to a program. Examples include medical and law courses. In such cases additional testing is done.

The general requirements of the Committee of University Principals

A home learner can comply in various ways to the general requirements:

1. Through obtaining a NSC endorsed by Umalusi. This can be done by registering with a curriculum provider who is registered by an examination board;
   • For admission to a higher certificate studies, only a percentage of 30% in the language of instruction is required.
   • Admission to a diploma study, a rate of 30% in the language of instruction at the given institution is required and 40-49% in four NSC  subjects.
   • Admission to a university a percentage of 30% in the language of instruction at the givn institution is required and 50-59% in four NSC subjects of a prescribed list of subjects.
     
     OR;
     
     
2. Through obtaining an international matric which is acknowledged by the matriculation board (eg Cambridge,GED). The following alternatives are available:
   
   1. 1. Cambridge : Click here for a document that describes the subjects and minimum scores requiered for admission of Cambridge candidates.
         
         
      2. GED plus a letter of admission from an appropriately accredited US university. Once a student has passed his GED, the student can apply for admission at a US University and receive such a letter. It is fairly easy and cheap to acquire such a letter at the Empire State College in New  York.
         
         
      3. GED plus minimum SAT scores. A SAT I score of 1600 with a sub-minimum of 550 for Critical Reading and 500 for Mathematics. A SAT II score of 1050 for English and one of Physics or Chemistry with sub minimum of 500 for either the English or one of the Physics, Chemistry, Biology or World History scores obtained at one or more sittings.
         
         OR;
3. By admission through getting a degree at a foreign university which is recognized by the matriculation board; OR
4. Through  a diploma from a college, technicon or university; OR
5. Through being 23 years or older and getting 40% for a combination of subjects and a statement from the senate of the university stating that the student has a reasonable chance to complete the course; OR
6. Through being 45 years and older and obtaining a statement from the senate of the university that this student has a reasonable chance to complete the course; OR
7. Through being younger than 23 years and obtaining a statement from the senate of the university that this student has a reasonable chance to complete the course. This option can just be considered for extremely talented students.

The process to receive matric excemption from the Matriculation Board is as follows:

• Fax a copy of the Cambridge/GED/SATS documentation and an ID copy to 0866 7777 44 (include contact details)
• It takes approximately five working days to process (one can take the preliminary letter to any university, while awaiting the official document)
• Contact persons: Themba or Radley on 012 481-2915/2910 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it