By Marli Naidoo

Last year 76,2% of matriculants passed their final examination. Approximately 210 000 (36,4%) of these matriculants gained access to degree studies and approximately 150 000 got diploma passes.

Most matriculants, however, are not going to study further and are excited to enter the labour market. There, however, they are faced with a mountain of unemployment. When we look at a broad definition of unemployment, we see that approximately 50% of youths between the ages of 15 and 34 are unemployed.

The idea communicated to learners that a matric certificate is a magic wand that will make all their dreams come true, causes a lot of disappointment. It is not at all that easy to get a job.

One of the solutions is to equip teenagers with skills that will enable them to generate an income the moment they leave school. These skills include trades. Teenagers can already   start extramural training in various trades when they go to high school.

Many schools also offer practical subjects. Encourage your teenager to take one of these subjects.

During school holidays he can enrol for short courses and with time complete all the modules or levels.

Apprenticeships are one of the best ways to learn a trade. Your teenager can work in a workshop voluntarily in the afternoons after school or over weekends and learn everything about the relevant trade.

Not only will your teenager learn the physical skills, but he will also see how a business works, what professional etiquette is and he will possibly discover new interests within himself.

After matric he can take the necessary steps to write his trade test. A trade test is the final integrated assessment for a trade qualification in a listed trade. The test is taken at an accredited trade test centre by an assessor registered with the National Artisan Moderation Body.

Sources

Sowetan Live: https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2022-01-20-you-passed-matric-but-you-cant-get-into-a-university-what-now/

Equal Education: https://equaleducation.org.za/2017/01/09/matric-results-and-south-africas-youth-unemployment-crisis/

Understood: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/9-ways-your-teen-can-learn-a-trade