By: The Youth Voice Reporter

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) is calling on learners who were unsuccessful in their National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams to make use of the official Second Chance Programme. The initiative is completely free and allows learners to rewrite or add subjects in the May/June 2026 exam cycle.

The DBE warned learners against using private or commercial services that charge fees for participation. “For authentic information, please contact the Department of Basic Education directly or visit the official website,” the department said. The Second Chance Programme is designed to help learners who have not met the requirements of the NSC or extended Senior Certificate, giving them another opportunity to improve their results and access bursary and further study opportunities.

Eligible candidates include Senior Certificate learners registered to write in June and NSC part-time learners who attempted the exams after 2008 and wish to rewrite in May, June, or November. Subjects offered through the programme include Accounting, Agricultural Science, Business Studies, Economics, English First Additional Language, Geography, History, Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Physical Sciences, and Life Sciences.

This year, the DBE is set to release the 2025 matric results on 12 January 2026. Over 900,000 candidates sat for the 2025 exams at 7,000 centres, supported by thousands of invigilators and more than 51,000 markers and moderators.

The Second Chance Programme provides learners with an opportunity to achieve their academic goals, improve their matric results, and continue on the path to higher education and career success. Learners are encouraged to register through official DBE channels and make the most of this free Second Chance Matric opportunity to rewrite or add subjects.