Expert advice on how to deal with disappointing matric results
Stacey Cohen, an Educational Psychologist in Sandton, Gauteng, shares advice on how to deal with disappointing matric results and offers different options available to improve the results.
Failing matric can be one of the hardest things to deal with as a learner. Some learners even go as far as committing suicide because of the shame and embarrassment that comes with failing.
Many might feel that failing matric means their future is doomed. However, educational psychologist Stacey Cohen of Buddingminds says: “Matric does not define your future or the success of your future.”
She says there are many reasons why people fail and it’s important for a learner to evaluate what led to him or her failing.
“The first step moving forward is to reflect on why one failed. Some circumstances are out of our control, such as a loss of a loved one or the absence of a teacher,” says Stacey.
“However, if a matriculant can come to the conclusion that they struggled or felt overwhelmed, they can seek extra lessons at school or counselling so as to better equip them should they decide to repeat the year. In addition to this, if one did not study, perhaps one can work out a better study timetable to ensure they allot sufficient time to study, grasp concepts as well as allow for opportunity to consult with a teacher should there be a concept one is struggling with,” she says.
For those not wishing to repeat matric, Stacey advises that they do “supplementary exams, remarks or rechecks (by Friday, 18 January).”
Supplementary exams offer learners an opportunity to improve their results or complete outstanding subjects. A remark is for those who feel they wrote well and should have passed, however they were robbed of their marks.
Stacey says learners can also do Second Chance Programme or go to Technical Vocational Education and Training(TVET) colleges.
Second Chance Programmes offer free support to learners who need to re-write a maximum of two subjects in February and March. It offers face-to-face tuition, broadcasting solutions, and printed and internet resources.
TVET Colleges offer a wide range of practical training options for people with or without matric.