By Staff Reporter
A national counselling centre says a large portion of an average 200 calls a day have come from depressed matriculants in the Western Cape, despite the province's 83,7 percent pass rate.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) has been inundated with calls from matriculants who failed their exams or, having passed, were concerned about their futures.
Janine Shamos, senior counsellor and trainer at Sadag, said the phone calls had eased up recently but they were ringing off the hook last Thursday and Friday, when the results were released.
She said it was difficult to determine exactly how many calls had come from the Western Cape.
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"There was an incredible increase in the number of calls we received," she said.
"We got a lot of calls from the Western Cape and are still receiving calls from pupils who have passed but are struggling to cope with the stress of what to do with their lives."
She said it was the first time that so many calls had been received at this time of year and that calls had come from a diverse spectrum of teenagers from rural, urban, wealthy and poorer communities.
Shamos encouraged parents to speak to their children.
The centre will run a programme at schools this year to teach youngsters coping skills.
"Children are not prepared to handle stress, and they don't know how to study properly," she said.
Lifeline counsellors said the organisation had received quite a few education-related calls from parents regarding their children's futures but |not that many from matriculants.
Education Minister Naledi Pandor has revealed her dissatisfaction with the "hype" around the results announcement at this time of year.
She said it was time the country aligned itself with international practice, and allowed for the results statement to be based on published school achievements and the conclusions of the quality assuring body.
A total of 39 832 candidates in the province wrote the full matric examinations this year.
About 2 290 achieved distinctions - 79 more than last year. Merit passes were one less than last year.
A total of 10 589 candidates received endorsements, 195 more than in 2005.
Endorsements enable candidates to register to study at universities and technikons.
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This article was originally published on page 4 of Cape Argus on January 03, 2007
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