Publications
Partners
You might want to think twice about purchasing that "authentic" matric certificate advertised on social media.
If you failed matric there are other, more legal, avenues to explore in order to obtain your NSC Certificate.
For years scammers have targeted desperate high-schoolers with adverts on social media, promising a quick fix to their fail.
The ads are posted from various (scam) accounts and promise to help people who have either failed their matric exams or dropped out of school before obtaining a Grade 12 pass.
This help comes in the form a forged matric certificate, sold for as much R 2 500.
The Department of Basic Education has again warned the public not to purchase fake matric certificates from people selling them on social media.
Severe consequences
Should you purchase a matric certificate and use it to apply for a job or further education, if you are found out you could face jail time or a huge fine, or both if you're especially unlucky.
The National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act 12 of 2019 was updated to state that:
"Any person convicted of an offence in terms of this Act, is liable, in the case of a contravention of sections 32B(1), 32B(2), 32B(3) or 32B(4) to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or to both a fine and such imprisonment."
Additionally, anyone can report you for this criminal offence. Which means that parents, friends, family, educators and employers who know you're fibbing can report your deceit.
Must read: Five years in jail for lying on your CV: just don't do it
Here are the legal avenues you should use to obtain your NSC Certificate:
Supplementary Exams
The Department of Basic Education announced a new approach to the supplementary exams in 2018.
Supplementary exams are no longer written in February/March, but during May/June instead.
To apply for the NSC June supplementary examinations you must register before the closing date, 31 January 2020.
For more information on registrations visit the Department of Basic Education.
Read more here: The NSC June 2020 supplementary exams: all you need to know
Amended Senior Certificate
For older people who have not obtained their matric certificate, don't fret, it's not over for you yet.
Anyone from 21 and above can register for an amended senior certificate if you have:
- A General Education and Training Certificate (GETC),
- A Grade 9 or Standard 7 report stating they passed the year,
- A recognised equivalent obtained at NQF level 1 which requires two official languages
You can also visit a provincial education office for more information on how to go about making an application.
Read more here: How to get your matric as an adult in 2020
Start again
Alternatively, you can redo the entire year at school.
If you are under 21 you are eligible to repeat your entire matric year either via your school, or at a TVET college or via correspondence learning.
Consider these options:
Damelin Correspondence College
Would you be tempted to buy your way out of high school?
Chat back:
Share your story with us, and we could publish your mail. Anonymous contributions are welcome.
Read more:
PIC: Rachel Kolisi hilariously recreates viral back-to-school pic!
First day of school? Be careful what you post online
The cutest (and funniest!) first day of school pics from around SA
