Parents urged to support matrics
PSYCHOLOGISTS and psychiatrists have urged parents and guardians to give matrics the necessary support as some celebrate the end of their 12-year schooling career this week, while others will receive disappointing final results.
Umalusi, the quality assurance council which oversees South Africa’s National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, gave the Basic Education Department and other assessment bodies the green light to release the results on Friday.
The Independent Examination Board results will be released a day earlier.
Close to 800 000 pupils sat for this year’s exam.
In recent years, there have been reports of pupils taking their own lives after failing exams.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) said it was important for parents and guardians to pick up stress and depression signs early during this time.
“Pressure and anxiety will start mounting soon as the pupils are counting the number of days left before the results come out.
“Teenagers are very sensitive when it comes to failure.
“When support is given to them (pupils) suicidal thoughts can be prevented.
“Sadag’s lines are always open, so we will be on standby to help pupils who didn’t pass their Grade 12 exams.”
While no exam papers were leaked this year, Umalusi said there were several irregularities, particularly in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.
During a briefing at Umalusi’s Pretoria offices, chief executive Dr Mafu Ramoketsi said it had a duty to ensure the “high quality of education is maintained”.
Umalusi council chairperson John Volmink said: “Having studied all the evidence at hand on the management and conduct of the NSC examinations administered by the department, Umalusi is satisfied that apart from instances of irregularities, there are no systemic irregularities reported that may have compromised the overall integrity and credibility of the November 2018 NSC examination.”
Although Umalusi commended improvement in quality and no adjustments were made in subjects such as maths, life sciences and physics, a cause for concern was geography.
Department of Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga will announce the national pass rate on Thursday.
When support is given to them (pupils) suicidal thoughts can be prevented South African Depression and Anxiety Group