Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane, has congratulated the matric Class of 2021 for doing well despite facing numerous hardships last year, but also warned them not to over-indulge in festivities that might lead to problems such as unplanned pregnancy or sexually-transmitted infections, including HIV.
Speaking on the Department’s multimedia programme, KZN Health Chat, shortly after being part of a matric results announcement ceremony, MEC Simelane said: “To those learners who have passed their matric, they must not go overboard in their celebrations. Just because you are done with matric does not mean you’ve done it all in life. There’s still a life to be lived beyond a day like today. When we are warning about going overboard, we are saying that people must not consume too much alcohol or abuse it. They must be safe, especially those who have already involved themselves in sexual activities. They must know that life goes on and take the necessary precautions so that they do not find themselves with unplanned pregnancies or sexually transmitted infections just because they had sex without protection.”
MEC Simelane also reminded those who did not do well in the 2021 academic year, which was also severely disrupted by social unrest in July 2021, that failing matric does not mean the end of the world.”We know that there are those who get frustrated and others get depressed, especially when they have failed after working hard to try and secure a matric pass. It’s not the end of the world and there is always a next time. The MEC for Education has explained that there’s the ‘Second Chances’ programme that learners who did not pass can opt for. There’s no need for learners to take their lives just because they did not pass. “They can also ask for re-marking or go back to school and there’s also the option of going to a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) training college, which can help channel them in the right direction. To those who did not pass, we are saying, we know that right now, if you see your friends progressing, it will look like your world has come to an end. But you will only realise when you grow older that matric is not the be all and end all,” said MEC Simelane. She said they are therefore pleading with the learners who are struggling to accept their results that the Department of Social Development has people who can provide counselling and guidance.
