Parents must provide ‘safe space’ when matric results are released
As the long wait for the 2022 matric results entered its final stretch on Thursday, a psychologist has urged parents to provide a safe space for their children.
Dr Nadia Osman says the teens need to be reassured that there is much more to them than their exam results.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is set to release the national results on Thursday evening, while individual pupils will be able to access their marks on Friday.
Osman says the youngsters are faced with life changing decisions, so feeling overwhelmed and under pressure is normal during this time.
“Great change has to come, university is very different, but also a time of real anxiety coming up. If we look at the definition of anxiety, anxiety are thoughts about the future, assuming the worst and underestimating our own ability to cope.
“And I think that is exactly what we see most of our grade 12 learners going through. Assuming it’s bad, assuming they don’t have options, assuming they are not going to cope.”
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Dr Osman says children and parents need to stay positive and remember there are always options no matter the exam results.
“There is a lot of stress and tension around it because they assume that this is the end of the road, and this is going to decide or dictate your future. As important as it is, there are so many options, there is such a choice if you are not happy with your results. There is FET colleges, you can rewrite, or there is so much more that you can do.”
