Matric results – where to for the class of 2012?

South Africa’s 2012 matriculants must decide whether they can go on to tertiary education or try to enter the job market. 2012 saw an improvement in the national pass rate from 70.2 percent in 2011 to 73.9 percent, but despite the pass mark going up, the challenges faced by young South Africans do not end at passing their National Senior Certificate.

South Africa has a poor employment growth and economists estimate that matriculants have only a 25% chance of finding a job.

Even though more students qualified to get into university, the National Planning Commission Diagnostic report estimates that less than 4% of those who pass matric will actually be accepted into university.

“A university degree is not the be-all and end-all of further education. Too few of our matriculants consider a career as an artisan, i.e. as a plumber or boilermaker, in spite of there being a huge shortage of those skills in our economy. Further Education and Training is another option that should not be slighted,” says Totsie Memela-Khambula, CEO of Eduloan.

The department of higher education and training is hoping matriculants who either did not qualify for university entrance or applied to university too late will respond positively to its campaign meant to attract them to the public Further Education and Training (FETs) colleges to apply. FETs are open for late applications and registration this week.

There are 50 FET colleges with 264 campuses all over the country which offer a range of programmes that cater for most students' needs and interests ranging from engineering, business studies, art and music to food services.

FET colleges are ideally positioned for South Africa's economic growth, critical and scarce skills provision for the country, and the Department of Higher Education hopes that FETs will help to address the high levels of unemployment in the country.Memela-Khambula urges matriculants to take a practical view of their future. “If you have the means and the matric results to enable you to enter tertiary academic institutions, go for it and work hard. If not, there are other ways to qualify yourself. Most people can find a way to study further, even if this means part-time study via Technikons in South Africa, Unisa, or a FET college. Many places of work also offer training via the Seta system,” she says.

“Whatever their choice or opportunity, Eduloan wishes South Africa’s matriculants only the best for their future. These young achievers are, after all, also South Africa’s future and their welfare and success will impact on the country as a whole,” says Memela-Khambula.

To help prospective students on their way financially, Eduloan offers a variety of financing options. For more information, call Eduloan’s Client Services Department on 0860-55-55-44 or visit www.eduloan.co.za or follow us on www.twitter.com/EduloanSA and www.facebook.com/EduloanSA.