Durban - Should pupils from the matric class of 2020 receive poor results, it is not the end of the world as there are still a range of options.
Unisa Department of Psychology of Education chairperson Professor Ramodungoane Tabane said 2020 was difficult for pupils, including psychologically.
“This time around anxiety is more heightened because of the many disturbances that have occurred and how it was not the pupils’ doing. Then to salvage the situation there was online learning and staggered attendance to school, and all of that brought with it another layer of stress and anxiety,” said Tabane.
“Most of them I’m sure are expecting poor results, because the support that was supposed to be there for them was not there.”
Tabane said there were no extra lessons or tutors for matrics, therefore there was a fear of failure, a fear of pupils disappointing their parents and that their lives had come to a standstill.
“Now it is important for them to start to re-energise themselves into what is next. And as long as they are communicating with their parents, a teacher, educational psychologist to say what is reality, what is do-able, what is realistic as well, and then come up with information, that is critical,” said Tabane.
He said pupils needed to establish what other opportunities were available to them, and parents needed to know that these were their children’s lives and dreams, not their own dreams.
“They just have to support them,”he said.
Childline KZN acting director Adeshini Naicker said both parents and pupils needed to realise that disappointing results were not the end of the world.
“While it may create a setback, one has to remember that the most successful individuals also go through setbacks,” she said.
“In the past few years we have noticed a decline in calls relating to matric result stress. This indicates that pupils are adapting and learning to cope with stress and also realising that they have access to many support systems and are not alone.”
Naicker said there were many options such as rewrites, remarking, choosing a different career path or even just repeating the year.
“In light of the fact that 2020 was an unprecedented time, one new to parents, teachers and most importantly pupils, pupils need to go easy on themselves.”
Reigning Miss South Africa Shudufhadzo Musida said she struggled in matric because of pressures and wanted to let matric pupils awaiting their results know that it was not the end of the world.
Musida currently hosts a weekly online mental health initiative, Mindful Monday, together with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag).
“They (matrics) are not alone. They wrote matric during a pandemic and they were expected to deliver the same results as when not in a pandemic,” said Musida.
To the matrics, Musida said: “No matter what, you defied all odds. I’m super proud of you regardless of your results. And you should be proud of yourself.”
For support with depression, contact Sadag: 0800 21 22 23, SMS 31393 or visit www.sadag.org.
The Daily News