Helping matric learners overcome failure

What parents and teachers can do to help children overcome matric disappointment.

The learners of the Matric Class of 2021 need their support structures more than ever with many not performing the way they hoped for and others failing. This is according to educational psychologist and Wits University senior lecturer Dr Simangele Mayisela who stated that there is a role for both teachers and parents to support such learners through this time.

Dr Mayisela prefers that such support starts long before their children’s final school year. “Parents need to be there for the matriculants, not only after failing, but the journey of supporting the child should start long before the matric class. The close support would gain the parents an understanding of their child’s strengths and weaknesses, so they would know what support to give.”
Parents can assist by supporting, encouraging, helping and staying interested in the child’s pursuit of their career path after matric by conversing often about it and sharing in the dream.

Teachers can also make a difference in the mindset of learners who didn’t achieve well. Dr Mayisela said, “Teachers are even in better positions to offer informed knowledge and guidance on career advice, and they can also help the learners pursue professional career assessments where possible.”

Parents and teachers need to be there for the matriculants, not only after failing but the journey of supporting the child should start long before the matric class. For parents, close support would gain the parents an understanding of their child’s strengths and weaknesses, so they would know what support to give.

She added, “Teachers need to provide support and knowledge as early as in Grade 10, building up from the previous grades. Teachers are often observant of any behaviour change and even slight drop in academic performance of the learner that they may identify symptoms of distress to prevent the development of serious mental breakdown.”