Western Cape Minister of Education Debbie Schäfer appeals to all Western Cape residents to support and be mindful of the 2021 matric class before the start of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams.
She said: “As October is National Mental Health Awareness Month, this class has had a particularly tough year and a half. As Grade 11 learners last year they missed a substantial amount of in-person teaching and learning time, so there was a lot to catch up on.”
Schäfer said the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) prioritised them this year to ensure they had the maximum possible time in class, which included cancelling the mid-year examinations to give them more teaching and learning time.
“I salute the work that all of our matric teachers have done to prepare this class to the very best of their ability. We recognise that this will be a stressful and anxious period for our Grade 12 learners, and that they may be struggling to cope emotionally with the pressure. I urge each of them to reach out for help if they need it.”
Schäfer added that each district has a Specialised Learner and Educator Support (SLES) team, which includes psychologists and social workers.
“When a learner approaches a teacher for help, or a teacher notices a learner is not doing so well, they can refer them to their district office for individual support. The district can also make referrals to other departments for additional support where needed.”
The department appeals especially to communities to report cases where learners are manifesting symptoms of depression and may even be at-risk of a possible self-harm attempt.
Schools, parents or learners can call the WCED’s Safe Schools call centre on 0800 45 46 47 for assistance in locating immediate support.
In addition, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) offers a 24-hour helpline, 0800 12 13 14, as well as a Suicide Emergency Number, 0800 567 567. Learners and parents can use these numbers if they feel the child needs immediate assistance (often after school hours). SLES teams in the districts have been proactively engaging with Grade 12 learners as they prepare for exams.
This has included:. Motivational talks. Study skills sessions. Self-care and mindfulness sessions with groups of matric learners. Psycho-social support sessions with parents focusing on communication, realistic expectations and goal-setting, and supporting a Grade 12 learner at home. Group support sessions
Various partner organisations have been assisting in these efforts – from universities to NGOs. Attention has also been paid to the wellbeing of matric teachers, so that they can better support their learners.
“As we count down the final days to the start of the exams, we must all do everything we can to create the right environment in which our learners can do their very best. This is the culmination of their school career, and they deserve our special attention and support.”
