SYSTEMIC DISPARITIES Matric exams: is it the window to the world?

THOSE pupils who have been resilient enough — some in difficult educational environments — and have meandered through the previous 11 years of schooling, the matric exams are a just reward. This milestone in the pupil's academic journey creates anxious pupils, teachers and parents.

- PROFESSOR VIMOLAN MUDALY

Matric marks the completion of secondary education, and is often regarded as a gateway to tertiary education and future employment opportunities. However, the dream of obtaining a matric certificate is not a reliable indicator of tertiary acceptance and entrance into the job market.

The matric exams are intended to evaluate a pupil’s knowledge and competence across a range of subjects after 12 years of schooling.

Often, the intention is to assess the pupil’s deep conceptual understanding of information pertaining to the different disciplines. The results obtained are used for various purposes: entrance to higher education institutions, qualification for bursaries/scholarships, and even consideration for direct employment. In many ways, these results function as a sorting mechanism, distinguishing those who are perceived to be academically capable of entering tertiary institutions from those who are not.

Matric performance often determines access to scarce opportunities in South Africa. For example, a high Bachelor’s pass opens doors to university degrees, which are generally linked to higher income levels and improved quality of life. Employers, too, often use matric results as a filtering tool when hiring entry-level workers. As such, the exams appears to play a pivotal role in shaping one’s prospects.

Empirical evidence shows that students who perform well in matric are more likely to succeed at university. Subjects such as maths, physical sciences and English, in particular, correlate strongly with tertiary-level achievement. A strong matric performance also builds a foundation of discipline, perseverance and study skills that are beneficial in future academic or professional settings.

Moreover, matric results can influence the kinds of career paths individuals pursue.