The IFP wishes all matriculants well for their final exams.
The examinations will start on November 5, and end on December 15.
Our matriculants are writing their exams under unfavourable conditions, with added fear, stress and anxiety due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has had a negative effect on their learning process. Nonetheless, we wish them the best in their exams. They must remain strong and positive, even during this trying time. These exams are the zenith of twelve years of hard work by students and educators and will determine the future of these students.
The IFP believes that the success or failure of the learners should be used as a barometer to determine how well our education system is performing, and where interventions are most needed.
As exams begin, the matriculants need to put all their energy and focus into their studies, and ‘abstain’ right from the beginning. This is not a time for partying, unnecessary friends’ gatherings, walking in the streets, or girlfriends and boyfriends – learners must abstain from temptations and irregularities and focus on their studies.
It is important to remember that learners are paving their way to university and to achieving their dreams. Hard work will surely yield good results.
There is no next time, the time is now. Hard work pays off. It is not ‘good luck’ but rather how well they have studied and prepared themselves for the exams – even during this trying time of the Covid-19 pandemic – that will produce positive results.
The IFP appeals to parents not to put too much pressure on learners but to offer their full support to them. We want all our learners to do well in the exams. Parents and society alike should put less pressure on children. Suicides tend to occur when people expect too much of a child, and when the child does not meet these expectations and cannot cope, but feels that they cannot talk to their parents or educators.
Further, the IFP is against what is perceived to be a culture by some Grade 12 pupils to tear or write on their school uniforms as they celebrate the end of exams. Instead of destroying their uniforms, they must rather donate their school uniforms to needy pupils.
Lastly, the IFP urges matric pupils to desist from attending end of exam celebrations, known as the ‘pens down’ parties, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is a well-known fact that alcohol is involved at these ‘pens down’ parties. Covid-19 is still among us, and we fear that matric students will not care about social distancing and the wearing of masks during the celebrations. Allowing matric ‘pens down’ events is nothing more than a recipe for disaster.
We urge the KZN Department of Education to issue an instruction prohibiting ‘pens down’ parties in the Province because of the risks posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Contact:
IFP KZN Education Spokesperson
Mrs Thembeni KaMadlopha-Mthethwa, MPL
071 884 3844 or 079 114 3015
