Bad results lead to options

THOUSANDS of matric pupils will this week have to face the reality that things have not worked out the way they wanted them to in terms of their results.  With this disappointment will come the disarray of having to review their plans for 2016.

The most important thing to realise at this stage – even though it may be tough to stand up and face these choices – is that bad results are not the end of the road, and that there are still many options to get back on track.

‘Below par matric results do not mean you have to give up on your dreams and aspirations,’ said Dr Felicity Coughlan, Director of The Independent Institute of Education.

If handled maturely and pragmatically, a disappointing performance could be just the catalyst needed to propel a learner in a new and better direction, with more determination and resolve than before.

There are still many options available, but it is imperative that proper research into all these options be conducted.

Writing supplementary exams

Not everyone will qualify for supplementary exams, but if they do, they should definitely register and do their very best to pass. Check with your school whether you qualify and then go all out these next few weeks in ensuring that you spend as much time as possible behind your books.

Repeating the year

Having another go at matric is not a happy prospect for anyone who has just been through the mill, but it could be an exciting second chance if you go about it differently this time round. For instance you might choose to do some part-time work while being enrolled in a distance learning course, or you could choose to attend a different institution that specialises in rewriting.

Enrolling at a different higher education institution

SA has only one quality assurance system, which means that private institutions and public universities are subjected to the same registration and accreditation checks and balances. So if your marks mean that you pass but are not able to go to your institution of first choice, have a look around. There are some fantastic and often more work-oriented options available out there that you might not even have considered.

Choosing a different course

Perhaps a higher certificate is the stepping stone you need to be accepted into the course of your choice. Or perhaps there is a completely different direction which you can tackle, one that you were not aware of before. Again, do your research and do it thoroughly. Speak to the people in the industry you want to enter, and have a look around to see which institutions produce industry leaders. Today there are courses that did not even exist two years ago. Are you aware of these? If not, you have some pleasantly surprising research to do.

Electing to keep going even if things are not yet clear

Another cliché which continues to exist because it is true, is that it does not matter how many times you fall – it matters only how many times you stand up.  This is painful and disappointing, but it is only a catastrophe if you don’t stand up and face it.  This can be no more than a temporary setback and can in fact be a character and strength-building exercise. Do not let the year go to waste. If full-time study or a return to school feels like too much of an ask or you do not have the funds to do this, then at least enrol for a short course which can keep you growing and in the habit of learning. Sometimes all that is needed is one or two small successes to realise that you are more than capable.