Editor
The long awaited matric year of 2014 has come to an end. Proud are those who have passed and sad are those who have failed. I presume that ‘failure is a stepping stone to success’ is put to the test for those who really want to succeed, but for those who do not care about education, it is sad to note that you have wasted your time and your parent’s money in the last crucial year of your life.

Parents, teachers and governing bodies are to be the shareholders of the students’ failure due to the following reasons:

1. The most emphasised ‘matric ball’ is placed first on the list. The date is set for the occasion pre-matric examination. The students start embarking on party-making, designer gowns, car road shows, music, dance and the list goes on. Girls frequent the dressmakers for fittings and hairdo experiments instead of concentrating on exams. Teachers are supposed to be giving extra tuition instead of assisting students in merry-making. Is this ‘matric ball’ part of the curriculum, which has become a norm?

2. Parents allowing and assisting their children with such celebrations, encouraging them to participate in the ‘D-Day’ of their life, causing harm to the progress of passing the exams. Thousands of rands have been spent, but we hear a big ‘no’ to school fees. Parents are satisfied with their sons or daughters coming home drunk or drugged and God knows what else after the ‘matric ball’. An after party is also held. Respect is lost.

3. Students in the last year of the schooling career get swollen-headed and think that they know everything and cannot be questioned regarding their last crucial year at school. I adore those days when matric was the most important year for students. Teachers and parents were there to assist. I am recalling the years of the 70’s and 80’s. We used to have fun but not at the expense of the matric year.

Clean matric balls were held after the examinations with teachers celebrating with us and that too was after we got our results. Teaching and learning was the norm of those days. Partying and celebrations were done with no emphasis and not the ‘look forward to’ as done in these days.

Remember your destiny was in your hands and if you have failed, reflect on your doings. If you have passed, well done and you could have done better without the ghost of entertainment spoiling your results. I would like to invite readers to share their opinion on this topic.

Makes You Think