Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has assured the Class of 2025 that not passing the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations does not mark the end of their journey, emphasising that multiple support mechanisms and alternative pathways remain available.
Addressing learners at the release of the matric results on Monday, the Minister stressed the importance of hope, resilience and seeking support.
“And to every learner who did not get the result you hoped for: you are not a failure, and your story is not over. There are pathways to improve your results – through rewrites, support programmes and second-chance opportunities. What matters now is that you take the next step, with support, and without shame,” Gwarube said.
As part of these interventions, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) continues to roll out the Second Chance Matric Programme, which provides structured academic and psychosocial support to learners who wish to rewrite subjects or complete outstanding requirements.
The programme assists candidates to meet the requirements of either the National Senior Certificate (NSC) or the Senior Certificate (SC), enabling them to obtain a recognised Grade 12 qualification.
Support is offered through a combination of face-to-face classes at centres across the country, as well as online learning platforms, television lessons and radio broadcasts, ensuring access for learners in different circumstances.
Learners who qualify for the programme may rewrite through the following examination opportunities:
• NSC supplementary examinations in March.
• NSC progressed learner examinations in June, for candidates who previously did not sit for all six subjects.
• Part-time NSC examinations in November, for learners who attempted the NSC after 2015.
The DBE has reiterated that the Second Chance Matric Programme is provided free of charge, warning learners and parents to be cautious of private or commercial services that charge fees while claiming affiliation with the programme.
Eligible candidates may register to rewrite or add subjects in line with departmental policies for the May/June examination cycle, without making any payment.
Registration for the programme opened on 1 October 2025 and will close on 6 February 2026.
“The department does not endorse any private or commercial services that require payment for participation in the Second Chance Programme,” the DBE said, urging learners to rely only on official platforms for accurate information.
Re-mark or Re-check
In addition, the DBE provides an online service for (NSC) candidates to request a re-mark or re-check of examination scripts.
In order to request a re-mark or re-check service, candidates must first register on the e-Gov portal at www.eservices.gov.za to create a personal account. This account will allow the candidate to login using their password and usernames to access the service.
“Registration can be done at either the school or district office in the province or online,” the DBE said.
The opening date for applications for re-marking and re-checking is 13 January 2026 with the closing date set for 27 January 2026 for both manual applications and online applications.
The fee for re-mark is R120 per subject and re-checking is R30 per subject. The viewing of scripts may only be done after a re-mark or re-check of results. The closing date for applications is 7 days after release of re-mark or re-check results. The fee for viewing is R230.
Results of remarking will be released from 13 March 2026 and will be available at the school/exam centre where the candidate sat for their 2025 examinations.
The Second Chance programme targets key gateway subjects, including Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, Geography, History, English First Additional Language and Agricultural Sciences.
Beyond academic support, the initiative also forms part of government’s broader efforts to improve learner retention, align with the National Development Plan, and expose candidates to bursary and further-study opportunities.
The department has encouraged learners who feel overwhelmed or discouraged by their results to seek guidance from teachers, parents and support services, reminding them that mental wellbeing is a critical part of navigating post-matric options.
For verified information and registration details, learners are advised to contact the Department of Basic Education directly or visit its official platforms. Learners can use the following contacts:
• Email: SecondChance@dbe.gov.za
• SMS/Calls: +27 63 696 7246 (Enquiries)
• WozaMatrics WhatsApp: 061 505 3023 (Subject-related queries)
– SAnews.gov.za
