By Morag Venter
Morag Venter is a retired high school English teacher and former Head of English. She has co-compiled two current Grade 12 English literary anthologies.

For many years as a careers counsellor I begged pupils to stay on at school and to achieve the best Matric pass that they could.  And I trotted out the usual argument about being more employable. Then the National Department of Education announced that compulsory schooling ended with Grade 9 and that pupils could enter the labour market with a Grade 9 certificate.

What Labour Market?

I have recently had occasion to search for employment for an intelligent but ‘unmatriculated’ young woman.   And, to my horror, I realise that there is hardly an advert, hardly a position which does not demand a Matric certificate.  One cannot even train as a Call Centre operator without Matric behind one’s name!  Why does one need Matric to work in a Call Centre?  Is a Matric certificate going to ensure that one can speak clearly, answer queries and treat people well?

Why does one need Matric to be a Caretaker?  Why does one need Matric – oh, for any number of jobs which are advertised?  Our president does not have Matric but weare ‘Matric-verskrik’ in South Africa!

I doubt that many of the people who operate Call Centres in other countries have a school-leaving certificate.  I know that some of the best caretakers have no such qualification.  I am convinced that there are many people successfully holding down good jobs without a Matric certificate.  And yet we continue to demand it!

And we have 1 in 5 people in this country who are unemployed!  Most of these unemployed people have not passed Grade 12, but many have skills which could be honed for certain jobs.  Are they condemned to be ‘hewers of wood and carriers of water‘ for ever because they do not have that magical piece of paper to open the doors for an interview or training?

What chance do they realistically have of completing their education?   Many of them do not have study skills so formal education is a huge mountain to climb.  Yes, there are ABET colleges, but these are few and far between.  After classes, the young woman I mentioned earlier would have to walk back alone at night through the township where she lives.  And it is going to take her at least 4 years to reach Grade 12 level, assuming that she can handle all the subjects for each year.  How realistic is it to expect her to ‘get her Matric’?  She has children to support and cannot live on nothing while she qualifies!  She cannot go back to school – she is too old.  So, is this young woman who reads voraciously, shows remarkable insight and who speaks and writes exceptionally good English meant to be satisfied to clean someone else’s house for the rest of her life?  How can she possibly ensure that her own children have the opportunity to reach Matric?

No, as I see it, we have to seriously rethink our demands if we are ever to deal with the huge unemployment rates in the country.  Many folk just need the opportunity to break through the barriers to enter the formal Labour Market.

The consequences for our country are huge – fewer needing grants, more taxpayers, less crime, more self-respect for thousands of our citizens.  While it is right to urge those with the opportunity to ‘pass Matric’, we have to change our mindset about minimum qualifications.

The economic welfare of our citizens demands it!  The future of our country depends on this.

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