Matric is a demanding year, with exams, expectations and decisions about the future competing for learners’ attention. But the pressure does not end when the final paper is turned in.
With youth unemployment remaining a significant challenge in South Africa, decisions about further study and career options can feel overwhelming for young people and their families.
Karabo Mmasa, school portfolio manager at SPARK Schools, says that parents can play an important role in helping their children manage the pressures of Matric while keeping perspective and understanding there are different paths to consider after school.
Here are 5 ways to provide meaningful support without adding to the strain:
1. Create a nurturing home environment
Home can provide a much-needed space for learners to decompress and talk about how they are feeling, knowing there is someone at home who will listen. Parents can also help create a calmer environment – and reducing some household chores, where possible, can give learners more time to focus on studying.
2. Help your child develop a solid strategy
A clear study plan can make it easier for learners to manage their workload, prepare for exams and still make time for their social lives. Parents can help their children stay on track, but it is important to allow them to take ownership of their studies.
“Parents should bear in mind that a child’s study plan belongs to the child,” says Mmasa. “But knowing you’re there to support them can help them feel less overwhelmed.”
Putting phones away during study sessions can also help learners concentrate. Limiting social media use can reduce distractions as well as exposure to some of the pressures young people face.
3. Focus on progress, not perfection
Academic results are important, but they are not the only measure of how a learner is doing.
Matriculants may also be experiencing anxiety about what comes after school, particularly if access to further learning is limited, and the possibility of unemployment makes the future feel uncertain.
Parents can help by recognising what is going well and encouraging the progress their child is making. When a child is struggling, reassurance and practical support can help them work through the areas where they feel stuck.
4. Respect how your child learns
Not every productive study session looks the same. Some learners need silence and detailed notes, while others retain information better through diagrams, colour or audio.
Parents can encourage their children to identify what helps them learn most effectively, rather than assuming one study method is automatically better. This gives learners greater ownership of their learning while helping them recognise and work with their strengths.
5. Keep perspective when results arrive
The final exam does not necessarily mark the end of the anxiety. Waiting for results can bring its own uncertainty, particularly when a learner feels their future depends on a particular outcome.
If results are not what your child hoped for, focus on what you can do together to help them move forward. It can also help to consider different scenarios before results are released, and explore the options available for each one – whether that means further study or another pathway.
“Our responsibility as adults is to give learners perspective about their future,” says Mmasa. “There is more than one path to success, and helping them see these possibilities can make what comes next feel more manageable.”
Image credit: Magnific
