As Grade 12 learners from the 2021 academic year await the results of their national senior certificate examination, set to be released next week, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) says parents should build support structures instead of setting high standards for their children.
Speaking to Salaamedia, SADAG spokesperson Senzekile Shongwe stressed the importance of parents’ role in assuring learners that “whatever the results are going to be, I will be there for you. I will support you [and] no matter what the outcomes are, you and I together will find a way of moving forward”.
“70 percent of the time where students want to do well in school is so that they can impress them [their parents] so that they can make their parents proud. This means that they are the ones that are setting the standard of how they are feeling, so I advise that they should play a huge role in supporting their children,” she said.
Shongwe said giving assurance and assisting learners in moving forward after the results are released will help reduce the rate of suicide amongst matriculants. Suicide has been a cause of concern, especially as matriculants face the pressure of expectations and anxiety over their results.
Nafeesa Dangor spoke to Senzekile Shongwe, spokesperson for the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), on Mid-Morning with Nafeesa Dangor. Watch the full interview here:
