The date for the release of the highly-anticipated 2022 matric results is fast approaching, but not everyone is prepared. Umalusi asked has the Department of Basic Education for extra time to polish their preparation.
The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, stated that the 2022 matric results will be released on 19 January 2023. The official date was announced by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) during the first week of the new year.
The Umalusi Council, which sets and monitors standards for general and further education and training in South Africa, has requested that the release date of the results be delayed in order to allow the organisation to analyse the marks meticulously.
According to the Council, Covid-19 is the reason behind this ask. Because of the pandemic, the 2020 matric results were only announced on 23 February 2021 and the 2021 matric results were released on 21 January 2022.
But, the DBE is sticking to the original date of 19 January, despite Umalusi’s pleas and other complaints about whether learners will have enough time to register for their university academic years, which typically begins in February.
Spokesperson for the DBE, Elijah Mhlanga, explained that due to the increase in the number of learners writing matric, a lot more has had to be done in the process of marking the exams and releasing the results.
“If you look at the trends, there’s been an increase in the number of matriculants that are passing; we are now approaching one million [matric learners] in 2022, there are 921 000 [learners] which means there is an increase in the amount of work that needs to be done, and the analysis has become even more complex,” explained Mhlanga.
“Secondly, Covid happened as well. Remember, when schools first closed in 2020, in 2021 schools started late; same thing happened in 2022. So, the late start in 2022 had a knock-on effect which means the week that we lost, is the week that affected everything else in the system. Exams started late as well and ended later than usual.”
The Department explained that results for the matric class of 2022 are currently being processed.
“When the results are released, we urge [learners] to collect their results at the centre where [they] sat for the 2022 National Senior Certificate examinations,” said the Department.
Learners have the option to rewrite certain subjects if they wish, which Mhlanga says will still take place.
The application closing date for those who would like to make use of a second chance is 8 March, 2023. The same applies for learners asking for a remark or a re-check of their results.
“What is critical, is that as soon as you get your results, please look into them and immediately apply. We [the DBE] get a request for applications from people every year after the deadline has passed, and we cannot take anymore applications after that because the process is regulated; everything runs on time,” says Mhlanga.
