Gradesmatch and Nedbank changing lives of the Class of 2018.

Anxiety mounts as the class of 2018 awaits their matric results. Friday, 4th January 2019 marks an opportunity for the pursuit of dreams whilst for many matriculants, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, this presents an added layer of anxiety, stress and uncertainty as access to financial resources to secure them a shot at turning the tide of their family circumstances through higher education is in the balance.

Even with the announcement by former President Jacob Zuma in 2017 that “Students categorised as poor and working class, under the new definition, will be funded and supported through government grants not loans”, the reality for most South African  matriculants is that they have challenges with settling registration fees. NSFAS experienced ongoing challenges in 2018 regarding the disbursement of funds for students who were promised free education.The 2019 applications for students funding were also held back. 

However, Gradesmatch is doing its part to make a difference. One matriculant can stand a chance to win R50 000 towards funding their education. The competition runs till Sunday, 6 January 2019. To stand a chance to win the R50 000 that will go towards funding a students  education, there are three requirements to be fulfilled in order :

  1. Sign up at www.gradesmatch.co.za/register/matric
  2. Enter exam number and receive matric results through Gradesmatch
  3. Sign up on Unlocked.Me powered by Nedbank

The winner will be chosen randomly and announced on Tuesday, 8th January 2019. Gradesmatch will contact the winner within 5 working days. Should the winner not be contactable, they will be disqualified and will therefore forfeit their price. Another winner will then be chosen randomly.The winner will only receive the prize once all details have been verified and confirmed, including compliance with the rules and satisfying the qualifying criteria set. 

The fear of unknown worries the class of 2018

The class of 2018 wrote their matric examinations and now await their fate. In 2017, Minister of Basic Education, Ms Angie Motshekga announced that the pass rate was 75.1% which was higher than the previous year results by 2.6%.

Now, as the nation awaits the announcement of the national and provincial matric results by Ms Motshekga on the 3 January 2019, the nation hopes for an improved pass rate from the class of 2018. Gradesmatch has made it convenient and simplified for matriculants to access their matric results. Matriculants should simply register with their 13-Digit ID number and exam number on www.gradesmatch.co.za to access their results when the results are released to the class of 2018 from the 4th of January 2019.

As the matriculants wait for their results, Gradesmatch asked matriculants what is it that they worried about the most while they are waiting for their results after examinations, and:

  • 57% of the learners said; they fear to wait for their results
  • 23% Not qualifying for the course that they are applied for
  • 18% Not being able to go to the institution they want to go to
  • 2% They are not worried at all

Gradesmatch can put pupils at ease with some of the worries that they might have. Pupils must go to Gradesmatch website (www.gradesmatch.co.za) or download the application on their smart devices, register and fill in their results and the respective subjects they did. If pupils are worried about qualifying for the course they’ve applied for and not knowing which institution to go to if the one they have applied to does not accept them because they do not meet the requirements, Gradesmatch has a solution to that. Gradesmatch can help learners find a career that they might be interested in and can also check a variety of institutions that offer the same course but with different requirements.  

While some of the matriculants are worried about their results, one of the biggest stress factors is not knowing how are they going to fund their tuition and pay for their registration fees. Most pupils are depending on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and Funza Lushaka. Gradesmatch has over 200 bursaries available.