Page 19 - IFV Issue 8 August 2026

Today’s Child

THE WEIGHT WE GIVE TO MATRIC

BY NICOLA KILLOPS

Photo by Devin Avery on Unsplash

hen a child reaches Matric, Results can influence university excitement, but teenagers hear more
the whole household can admission and some of the options than the words themselves. They
Wbegin living by one school available immediately after school, but notice the anxiety underneath them
calendar. Holidays are shortened or the problem begins when we ask the and recognise when their parents
cancelled, weekends become study year to mean more than that. are comparing, worrying or silently
time and family plans are arranged A school leaving qualification calculating what each mark may mean.
year to mean more than that. A becomes a measure of intelligence, As the year progresses, many Matrics
school-leaving qualification becomes potential and future success. A are carrying their own ambitions
around prelims, applications and percentage starts to feel like a alongside the hopes and fears of
final examinations. Even ordinary judgement on seventeen or eighteen everyone around them.
conversations seem to make their years of growing, learning and Pertunia Nkomo-Mofokeng, Deputy
way back to marks, deadlines or what becoming. Young people begin to Dean of Teaching and Learning at
comes next. believe that one examination period Rosebank International, argues that
Parents are trying to help, while will confirm whether they are capable, academic commitment and wellbeing
teenagers are trying to hold it together, whether their parents are proud of cannot be separated. Chronic stress
and by the middle of the year neither them and whether their lives are affects concentration, memory and
side is particularly convincing. moving in the right direction. That is an problem solving, while exhausted
enormous load to place on somebody learners often spend longer at their
Matric deserves to who is still working out who they are. desks and retain less of what they
The
arrives
seldom
pressure
be taken seriously. It through one dramatic conversation, study. This is where families can lose
perspective. Sleep is cut to make room
requires commitment, but tends to gather through ordinary for revision, movement disappears
consistent work and questions. What did you get? Where from the day, meals become hurried
a willingness to keep are you applying? How much have you and time away from schoolwork begins
going through a long studied? Did you hear what someone to look irresponsible. Every hour must
else achieved? These questions may
apparently prove that the learner is
and demanding year. come from interest, concern or genuine trying hard enough, even though a

The Villager • August 2026 • 17