Experiences of participants in the Department of Basic Education’s second chance matric rewrite programme in Westrand, South Africa
Year: 2021
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the experiences of young people who had participated in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) Second Chance Programme previously offered by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and handed over to the Department of Basic Education (DBE) in 2016. Second chance education is based on the idea that ‘through an organised structure an individual can actualise an educational opportunity missed or failed the first time around.’ The philosophy underpinning second chance education is that ‘errors made with the selection mechanisms of the educational system or by individuals who terminated their own educational career could be corrected at a later stage.’ \nThe study, which applied the techniques of qualitative methodology, was undertaken in the West Rand, Gauteng in South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 beneficiaries between the ages 18 and 21 who had taken part in the programme. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and risks associated with it, the study was conducted, using e-platforms to avoid infections through close social contact. \nIt was found that the programme had assisted many young people who otherwise would not have been empowered was it not for this second chance to broaden their academic horizon. This programme in general was found to be of great assistance because of its flexibility and the professional conduct of the teachers. Unfortunately, the DBE discontinued the programme from the year 2020. This study recommended that the programme be continued, since empowering young people is a key necessity in this country. These youngsters are the leaders of tomorrow in various fields of economic activities; and it will be difficult for them to do so should they fail and drop out of Matric and the academic world. Dropping out will have an impact on the socio-economic ventures of the young people and will even go beyond the youth age and continue to infest poverty status across the nation.
Author: Maria Mamolifi Mokalake
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3200857627