The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has encouraged National Senior Certificate (NSC) candidates who were unsuccessful in their initial examination attempts to take advantage of the official Second Chance Matric Programme.

The programme, which is provided free of charge, allows eligible candidates to rewrite or add subjects during the May/June examination cycle, in line with departmental policies. The DBE has emphasised that no payment is required to participate and has cautioned learners and parents against private or commercial services claiming to offer access to the programme for a fee.

“The Department does not endorse any private or commercial services that require payment for participation in the Second Chance Programme,” the DBE said. “For authentic information, candidates are advised to contact the Department of Basic Education directly or visit the official website.”

The Second Chance Matric Programme is designed to support learners who have not met the requirements of the NSC or the Extended Senior Certificate. It forms part of government’s broader efforts to improve access to education and increase learner retention, in line with the goals of the National Development Plan and the priorities of the basic education sector.

Beyond providing a second opportunity to complete school qualifications, the programme also exposes learners to bursary opportunities for further studies, helping them to pursue post-school education and training pathways.

The DBE outlined the categories of candidates who qualify for support under the programme. These include Senior Certificate Examination candidates who are registered to write the June examinations, as well as part-time NSC candidates who first attempted the NSC examinations after 2008 and will be writing in the May/June or November examination sessions.

A range of key subjects is covered through the Second Chance Programme. These include Accounting, Agricultural Sciences, Business Studies, Economics, English First Additional Language, Geography, History, Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences.

Meanwhile, the DBE confirmed that the 2025 Matric Results will be released on 12 January 2026. More than 900 000 candidates sat for the 2025 examinations across approximately 7 000 examination centres nationwide. The process was supported by thousands of invigilators, as well as more than 51 000 markers and moderators, underscoring the scale of the national assessment effort.

The department has reiterated its commitment to supporting learners to complete their schooling and has urged all eligible candidates to make use of the Second Chance Matric Programme to improve their results and future prospects.