Never before has the Midrand sun rose so fine in anticipation of the 2019 Grade 12 results than today. For all the over 790 000 full-time and part-time matriculants who set for last year’s exams, their 12-year lap has come to its final reckoning.

The class of 2019 will learn its fate when the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga officially announce the Grade 12 results this evening.

The matric results have been ratified by UMALUSI, Council for Quality Assurance in Education. SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) quoted Umalusi CEO Mafu Rakometsi saying that “they are satisfied that there were no systemic irregularities and no paper leaks.”

Vodacom Dome at Vodawold in Midrand [Gauteng Province] will provide the backdrop from where the highly expected results will all be revealed and aired. The results for independent schools were published yesterday, Jan. 6.

According to News24:

“A total of 98.82% of pupils passed the 2019 Independent Examinations Board (IEB) National Senior Certificate exams, it was announced on Tuesday. The IEB pass rate decreased from 98.92% the previous year, its CEO Anne Oberholzer said in a statement.”

In South Africa, a matric or National Senior Certification (NSC) still carries weight for entering the formal job market and furthering studies. By and large, it marks the beginning of either a work life or tertiary education.

However, for some students passing matric or not is likely to add them to the expanding unemployment rate. Whatever the case, the class of 2019 has covered its demanding secondary education distance. The waiting is almost over.