The leap from school life to the world of study and work can be quite stressful for matriculants, but if preparation starts early, it can easily be managed.
Honest conversations with your child about their dreams and plans underpin the whole process. I think this preparation is crucial to help our children achieve their ideals.
Here are my recommendations for getting scholars ready for life after school:
Grade 9
Matric is way too late to start the transition process. It is important for Grade 9 scholars who make subject choices to have a clear vision of what and where they want to be post-matric. Remember that subject choices determine what you can and cannot do.
This is the time for parents to have a conversation with their children about their plans, whether it’s going to university or straight into work. All universities have websites where you can check study requirements. Be sure to consult these when choosing subjects and a career path.
For scholars who are uncertain about their career path, I suggest job shadowing, talking to professionals in various fields and, if financially viable, consulting an educational psychologist.
Grade 10
This is a good year to continue with the planning that started in Grade 9, but also the time for parents to have a transparent conversation with their child about aspirations, where they see themselves in the future and to manage the pressures your child is under.
It’s also a good time to instil some independence in your child; they need to start managing their own learning schedule.
If your child is struggling at school, explore alternatives such as the National Certificate Vocational (NCV) which is another option and equivalent to a matric certificate. The NCV allows your child to start studying in their chosen career field after Grade 9. So, instead of Grades 10, 11 and 12, students complete NCV Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 in the programme of their choice. They get an excellent academic education that focuses on their chosen career path, and matriculate with experience in an actual workplace.
Your child needs to be confidently independent in this process, because they drive their own learning – just like at university.
Grade 11
This is the most important year for your child to get into university. Most universities use the Grade 11 marks to provisionally accept students. The hard work to matriculate starts here.
If the hard work is done in Grade 11, and you are provisionally accepted into university, you are safe from worry. The matric year is essentially five months of learning and then exams. If scholars put in the effort in this year, stress is reduced, and they can enter their final schooling year far more at ease.
For parents, this is the year to reinforce good studying habits and goals, and giving your child emotional support.
Grade 12
Matric is a high-pressure year, and parents can play an important role in keeping their matriculants grounded. Have open conversations about your child’s fears, expectations and goals.
It is also important to have conversations about what happens should their results not be ideal. Reinforce the fact that failing is not the end of the world – it’s just a learning curve.
Help your matric scholar research the requirements for the jobs they want to do and help them set realistic expectations.
Beyond academics, this is a good year to focus on life skills like financial literacy and good spending habits, cooking skills and doing their own laundry. Discuss the world of work with them: the expectations employers will have of them, how they should conduct themselves, what to do and say in a respectful manner.
I know people often dismiss Life Orientation, but the subject really does teach young people the life skills they are going to need as scholars or workers. LO teaches them to write cover letters and CVs and shows them how to read a contract. Encourage your child to take these lessons seriously.
Help your child set up a timetable for Grade 12 which should include their vision for the year and beyond, their mission and the chores they have to do. This teaches balance and allows them to manage their stress levels.
By starting early and supporting your child through each stage, you can help them transition smoothly from school to their future studies or career.
Granny Msibi
Transition Coach
Image credit: Freepik