Young Communist League secretary Buti Manamela two weeks ago called on the government to stop publishing matric results in newspapers because, he claimed, it contributed to the high suicide rate among teenagers.

But the South African Depression and Anxiety Group said there was no evidence to support that there was an increase in teenage suicide during, or when matric results were released.

Operations director at Sadag, Cassey Chambers, said yesterday: "What we know is that 9.5% of all teenage deaths every year are suicides.

"The suicide rate is constant throughout the year. The whole year is stressful for matriculants and December is not an easy period. What we can do is have a sensitive approach to the situation.

"When learners come to school to get results, teachers and counsellorsshould be there to identify learners who display signs of depression."

Basic Education spokesperson Panyaza Lesufi said the tradition of publishing matric results has been going on for more than 30 years and was originally aimed at assisting pupils who were on vacation and were unable to get to respective schools to collect their results.

The examination representatives would give recommendations to director-general Bobby Soobrayan and Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

Matric examinations start on October 24 and finish on December 1.

Marking in eight provinces will start on December 2, while Gauteng starts on November 9.

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Wed May 23 00:04:48 SAST 2012 ::

Oct 5, 2011

proff213

whether or not the results are on the newspaper, pupils will continue killing themselves after failing, thats where educational psychology comes in, all teachers must be equiped with neccesory couselling skills to deal with depressed learners.
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Oct 5, 2011

Mellow

How does publishing names on the paper drive one to committing suicide, truth be told no one should expect to see their names on the paper when all they've been doing is play black mampatile, and who says stopping publishing the names will stop this kids from committing suicide? Counselling programs should be introduced in schools, parents need to start motivating their own kids, kids should know the consequences of their action, its a simple equation you dont study hell do not expect a miracle...for most of the kids seeing their names on the paper is an achievement of a lifetime so why take that, a kid with low self-esteem is bound to suffer of course but hell if they introduce counselling in schools kids will know that they are stronger than committing suicide and failing is really not the end of the world so every kid should aspire to see their names published
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Oct 5, 2011

ELJE

Kids love seeing their names in the newspaper they worked hard for 12 - 13 years and then they reap the rewards of their hard work. If you don't work of course your name will not be there and whose fault is it? Don't punish all the pupils for the sake of a few.
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Oct 5, 2011

makiller

This is not a new thing, back in the days of the Bantu education we will line up at assemble point and our names will be red in front of everyone(ever heard of top ten),so what?
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Oct 5, 2011

MshekeshekeLower

No no no the educ. dept should'nt even think of changing the culture which is so motivational to committed learners. Dont tell me about those who are there to date and smoke dagga and end up killing themselves. I suggest counselling before exams.
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Oct 5, 2011

zinja

this culture must come to an End papers are only concerned about making money by selling their papers. Reports should be issued instead & counsiling should be given before the issue of results done problem solved.
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Oct 5, 2011

SmartMoa

All this scholars needs to do is to take responsibility, how do you expect to see your name on the newspapers while the whole year they do not attend classes, do homeworks, write some of the tests, dodge when it's maths period because Mkhize teacher is boring, the names must be published so that next year they will do better, all they kno ke mojolo
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Oct 5, 2011

hlubiculous

sanukuchitha ixesha ni discuss ububanxa endaweni yokubana nize nestrategy sonceda abantwana bakwazi ukupumelela Woodwork kwaye nengxaki yabantwana abakopayo base Mpumalanga idinga ixesha lenu.............
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Oct 5, 2011

MaViks

Unyanisile Hlubiculous. Unless it is another profit making means for the print media. Ngempela what purpose does publishing of personal high school [nogal] results to do with the whole of South Africa? Ake sifundeni ukubheka ezethu bakithi! This is naming and shaming those poor kids who could not make it due to various reasons.
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Oct 5, 2011

MRPRESIDENT11

Young Communist League secretary is not necessary point to suicide as the factor, but the humiliating results from majority of black based schools .I don t know what can be remedy anymore for these kids. The pas percentage was dropped to 30, nontherless the rest are still failing, WHY?. We cannot put blame on teachers, just because of the few horny teachers. Our teachers during our times were even more disadvantaged together with learners because of shortage of textbooks and experimental resources. But the rest of us made it at 50% pass rate. These kids are too spoiled now. I hate them
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