Picture: for illustration purposes
Since the matriculation exams set students on their future trajectories, the significance of this educational milestone elicits high-stress levels among South Africa's learners; unfortunately, such stress often impedes the learners' optimal performance. Conversing with radio personality Relebogile Mabotja, prestigious maths instructor Sandile Mathebula sheds light on how parents can aid in diffusing this anxiety.
In Mathebula's experience, eleventh-hour exam preparation is a rampant occurrence that negatively affects the learners' performance. To combat this, he advises parents to keep a close eye on their children, identifying any behavioral shifts suggesting overwhelming exam stress. He believes that constant procrastination is a clear indicator of hidden tensions, hence the suggestion to parents to ensure timely preparation for their children without imposing undue pressures on them.
Mathebula further highlights the importance of parents alleviating, rather than amplifying, their children's academic stress. Parents can inadvertently project their anxiety onto their offspring, causing detrimental impact on their performances. The key to parental support during matric examinations lies in compassionate listening without judgement, especially when they struggle.