CHASING DREAMS

Resilient matric learners tackle their final exams ahead of uncertain future

- KIM SWARTZ

AS THOUSANDS of Western Cape matric candidates prepare to write their final exams, the pressure to perform is mixed with uncertainty about what comes next.

For many in under-resourced communities, the final stretch of school isn't just about passing - it's about breaking cycles of poverty, finding opportunity and holding onto hope in a country where youth unemployment hovers near 45 percent.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) expects 67 606 full-time candidates to sit for their National Senior Certificate, alongside 9 386 part-time or repeat learners.

They face a future shaped by economic upheaval and limited work prospects. And the numbers show just how steep the climb can be.

According to Statistics South Africa, the youth unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 34 is approximately 46.1 percent.

Even with a matric certificate, nearly one in two young people still struggle to find work a reminder that finishing school is only part of the journey toward a brighter future.

Yet for thousands of learners writing the exams this year, the focus remains on possibility: on changing their lives and those of their families.

WCED MEC David Maynier said there are 3 231 more full-time candidates writing compared to 2024.

Exams begin today and in total, 112 examination papers will be written, concluding on 26 November.