Zuko Komisa
Matric, the culmination of a child’s basic education career, is an important part of his or her education and paves the way for the next step in life.
However, passing the final exams with flying colours is not the be-all and end-all.
Though it’s easy to understand that there are other options out there, it might be hard for your teen to see them at this moment.
1. Get your child the support they need
If your teen is feeling dejected, it’s important to get them help and encourage them to talk about how they feel at this moment.
When he or she has worked through the disappointment, he or she can focus on their next step.
The time after the results are released can be critical for a young person’s mental health. It’s important to encourage your child to speak about how they are feeling about the bad results.
As hard as it may be to accept, parents aren’t always the best people to help their children.
As much as children know they are loved and supported, the conversations they need to have about what failed matric results mean for their future and how they feel is likely one they need to have with someone other than mom or dad.
2. Contact the South African Depression And Anxiety Group (SADAG)
Through SADAG, an organisation that provides mental health support and advocacy, the public can connect with support groups, and mental health and wellbeing professionals and they can access a telephonic counselling line.
Reach out to the SADAG counsellor on the Suicide Toll-free Helpline on 0800 567 567 (24-hours a day, seven days a week), or SMS 31393 and a counsellor will call them back.
You can also chat with SADAG online via WhatsApp on 087 163 2030 (seven days a week, 08:00 to 17:00).
Here are hotlines that are open 24 hours a day and will be there to help your child work through his or her feelings:
LifeLine: 031 312 2323
SADAG: 0800 21 21 21
Life Path Health: 072 7900 506
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3. Stay positive while dealing with disappointment
Sometimes, it’s not failure that will be an obstacle and a source of disappointment.
Circumstances beyond your or your child’s control can stand between them and their goals and lead to feelings of failure. Finances are one such obstacle.
While the #FeesMustFall movement was able to secure a no-fee increase in university fees commitment from the government, the time when tertiary education will be free in South Africa doesn’t seem to be in sight.
If it’s currently financially difficult for your child who has done well at school and wishes to pursue tertiary education to do so, the following resources will help to keep them positive with their goal in mind.
Student Spaza – listings for bursaries, internships and student jobs.
Student Village – informative website listing opportunities for students.
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