Managing matric in a time of turmoil

For the majority or learners, matric is the most challenging year of their school careers, even under normal circumstances.

The current circumstances facing the Class of 2020 are unprecedented, and have caused massive upheaval and uncertainty on top of the challenges they would ordinarily have faced.

Even so, there are ways learners can adjust and respond to ensure they still make a success of the year, an education expert at the Independent Institute of Education (IIE) says.

“When some speak in the media about the year being a ‘write-off’, it is easy to be even more anxious.

“What they are trying to communicate is how difficult it is going to be to assess progress normally and that a two year perspective should be taken.

“However, even this is not a comfort for Grade 12s who don’t have two years available to them to recover from this,” says Wonga Ntshinga, senior head of programme: Faculty of ICT at the IIE.

“On top of this, the amount of support available to matric learners before classes can resume is varied.

“Even those who are able to get high-quality online, paper-based or televised support are needing to work without the security of the presence of their teachers and peers,” he says.

Ntshinga notes that even then there are many who don’t have access to the necessary resources.

“It is clear that the Department of Basic Education is aware of this and there is little doubt that this group will be the first who will be allowed to return to school and time will be created to ensure that they can catch up – even if that means moving examinations into December.

“Individual students are not alone here and can at least draw comfort from the fact that the decision-makers are as worried as you are.

“It follows that what makes the most sense right now, is to take what you do have and what you must face, and make the most of it so by the time you get back to school you have managed to get ahead of your peers and in front of your own anxiety.”

Ntshinga notes while matric learners will indeed lose out on some of the experiences normally reserved for this year of school, they are also now, forever, the cohort that had to succeed faced with these challenges, which will earn them a measure of respect.

Ntshinga says that instead of trying to do it all, “learners should focus on small victories and goals – getting through today, or a particular chapter, or a past paper are all achievements.

“Stacked on each other, they will carry learners through.

“Identify the one or two things you can do every day that will mean success for you, and strive to then get these done.

“Aim for small successes every day, which will help to make sticking to routine the next day progressively easier as you go along.

“Don’t beat yourself up if you are struggling to get to grips with this new way. It is challenging for everyone, and there is a lot of empathy and understanding, especially on the part of your teachers.”

Ntshinga says getting things done might also call for some creativity.

“If you are sharing a small space with your family, and it is hard to get quiet focus time, you might try reaching an agreement with them regarding which times of day they need to give you some peace and quiet for studying,” he says.

“Or you could change the times you study; perhaps late at night when everyone else is sleeping, or an hour or two before everyone else wakes up.”

It’s also worth taking some time to get to grips with the actual logistics of learning remotely, Ntshinga says.

“If your school is one of those who have been preparing for digital and online delivery and now offer dedicated learning platforms, it might take some time getting used to the ins and outs of the apps they are using.

“Practice the ins and outs of these platforms, so the actual work that you are doing isn’t being slowed down by trying to navigate the app itself,” he says.

“And also keep in mind your data usage if you are studying this way.

“You can, for instance, download something with your night-time data and come back to it the next morning, and also save your data for your work, rather than wasting time and data watching movies online.”

Learners must also resolve to make the most of online classes by showing up, engaging and preparing as they would have for contact classes, he says.

He adds that those learners who do not have access to resources from their schools, should find out about the ones that are generally available, such as classes broadcast via the SABC or through the platforms of some telecoms providers.

Resources:

SABC’s broadcast classes on matric revision

Department of education’s Covid-19 support programme for learners

Learners can also share ideas and resources with friends using WhatsApp.

“If your school was not able to assist you, find someone or something that can.

“Investigative skills are already an additional life skill last year’s matric did not have to learn the way you do.

“We are in the midst of an unprecedented global crisis and everything is in a state of change.

“There is much you can’t control, but you can set yourself up to be prepared to live out your dreams in the new world order.

“Use this time to expand your vision of what your future might look like,” he says.

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