Only 60% turnout for matric exam rewrites
The Department of Basic Education says it would've liked to have seen more candidates sit for this year's second chance matric exams.
More than 279 000 students enrolled for the May/June papers.
The results were released on Monday.
Pupils are given the opportunity to rewrite their November papers to improve their marks.
Those absent for valid reasons were also allowed to write the exams.
Adult candidates aged 21 and older can also enrol themselves.
The department's Elijah Mhlanga says the examinations were a success despite some challenges, like community service delivery protests.
He says, however, only 60% of the candidates turned up to write the NSC papers, and 53% wrote the Senior Certificate exams.
"We have a large number of people who register, but those who come to write, the number is much lower and sometimes even half of those people. There is a challenge because we prepare for the people who register, but they don't come.
"We believe some because of employment opportunities they get, but others feel that they are not prepared to sit for the exams. So we need to find a way to support all our candidates."
