Matriculants under pressure

Matriculants are reaching out for emotional support beyond their homes amid examination stress, bickering parents, relationship problems and financial concerns.

Childline and the South African Depression and Anxiety Group have seen a spike in calls from Grade 12 pupils who are close to completing their final exams.

Childline's Joan van Niekerk said there are too many "over-stressed young people" out there.

"We would get phone calls where children would say: 'If I fail this exam there is no future for me. I might as well be dead'," she said.

Meryl da Costa, spokesman for the group, says it is difficult to say how many children call in.

"We receive a lot of calls from matrics, but they are not only for exam stress," she said. "[The calls are] due to a combination of stressors such as parents fighting, relationship problems, exam stress, financial issues."

Both Van Niekerk and Da Costa said that they handle more calls after the release of matric results.

Van Niekerk described this as the "most dangerous period".

Department of Basic Education spokesman Panyaza Lesufi said though exam stress for matriculants was an annual experience, the department was doing what it could to ease the pressure.

Pupils across the country were taken through coping mechanisms by their Life Orientation teachers before they sat down for their final exams.

"We also insist that parents play a supportive role . we cannot put all the responsibility on children."

Lesufi said that Life Orientation teachers were well equipped to handle pupils who felt stressed during exams. Teachers were also able to refer the pupils to professionals if necessary.

He said it was heartening that pupils reached out for help, and that the department had signed a memorandum of understanding with Childline to assist pupils to cope with stress.

"NGOs are providing a great service and pupils making calls to them confirms that they are responding to our countless efforts," said Lesufi.