Parents guide to matric support in 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has not only put much stress on matrics, but also their families. Parents are worried and wondering how to navigate this difficult year to ensure that they offer enough support to their children.

It can be incredibly hard to deal with the matric’s anxieties, disappointments and stresses, while dealing with own fears, expectations and emotions.

The South African College of Applied Psychology (SACAP) will be hosting a free webinar for parents to address such challenges on September 26.

There will be two presentations by the experts, focusing on the importance of emotional well-being and planning for matric.  There will also be a Q&A session so that parents can address any personal challenges in a supportive and caring environment.

“Helping your child be emotionally, physically and mentally prepared is the greatest thing that you can do in this exceptional year.
“Understanding the impact of emotional well-being on their performance and coming up with practical ways to guide them through their studies and exam time will help you, your matric student, and the whole family navigate the experience with far less stress and chaos, and with better outcomes,” said counselling psychologist, Lauren Martin, who will be part of the panel.

Joining Lauren Martin on the webinar panel will also be Esmarie Cilliers, a registered counsellor in private practice with a special interest in developmental psychology and personal growth.

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She said: “Studying for success is not a question of luck or talent alone. Researchers agree that students who have a strategy or a plan for how they are going to study, achieve the best outcomes.

“Students who follow a plan and scientific methods learn more easily, retain information for longer periods of time, and save themselves hours of study time which enables them to have more balance in their lives.”

She said one of the key aspects of how matrics and their parents approach the matric exams rests in their attitudes and perspectives on the challenges.

“Everything has been amplified by all the disruptions of the pandemic.

“On the one hand, it has served up anxieties and disappointments, and on the other it has provided an extraordinary life experience where the matric student can embrace their growing independence and tap into their inner characteristics such as resilience and courage.

“There is the choice to view this incredibly challenging time as an opportunity to improve self-discipline, time management and study skills. Drawing on our own inner attributes can help us to harness the motivation, will power, creativity and coping skills that will unlock the 2020 matric cohorts’ potential and empower them to succeed,” said Cilliers.

Martin added: “I would encourage every matric student and their parents to practice flexibility in planning and thinking about the future – especially this year, with all the additional stressors and challenges matric students have encountered.

“Every matric student is wondering about the next steps for them, whether that’s finding work, studying further or volunteering to gain experience. Rigid thinking around believing there is only one set way to achieve your goals exacerbates anxiety and pressure and often leaves students depressed and demobilized when they aren’t able to follow this specific, rigid plan.”

“Map out various pathways to your goal leaves students with options and possibilities, regardless of matric examination results. Other options come in to perspective such as, upgrading matric results; attaining a higher certificate prior to a degree programme; volunteering prior to work applications; considering trade qualifications or entrepreneurship opportunities.

“The mapping of possible routes to a fulfilling future is really endless, and matrics, and their parents, need to be reminded of the many possibilities they have.”

Join the Zoom webinar from 10am to 11am. Visit www.sacap.edu.za for more information.