September 9, 21:06IOL

How parents can support graduates experiencing exam pressure

According to data from the National Health Department, presented by the Department of Basic Education in 2025, approximately 7,426 children under 18 sought help following suicide attempts between April and December 2024.

As 12th-grade students prepare for crucial final exams, clinical psychologists strongly urge families to recognize that excessive academic pressure can seriously harm teenagers' mental health.

Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day, experts advise parents to replace lengthy lectures with active listening.

Exam anxiety, perfectionism, and a strong fear of failure create a difficult environment for graduating students undergoing final assessment.

Although family support often comes from good intentions, clinical psychologist Tabang Tlaka warns that even kind comments can unintentionally burden students with an overwhelming weight of expectations.

The Invisible Burden of High Expectations

When families set rigid standards, students often internalize the idea that their personal worth is directly tied to academic success. Tlaka explained that when a family constantly says things like, 'We know you can do it, you must get an A,' they are imposing all those expectations.

This situation leaves little room for mistakes, causing students to perceive any slip-up as a critical failure rather than a natural part of the learning process.

Proactive Stress Management Strategies During Exams

To help students maintain control over their workload and reduce anxiety levels, Tlaka recommends establishing structured and proactive study habits early in the preparation phase:

Create a realistic schedule: Divide subject material into manageable daily sessions to avoid last-minute cramming.
Systematize review: Distributing review sessions helps consolidate long-term memory.
Work with past papers: Practicing under exam-like conditions reduces the element of novelty and surprises on test day.
Explain the material: Verbalizing concepts to family members or peers strengthens understanding and helps identify knowledge gaps.

In September, which is observed as Suicide Prevention Month, psychologists emphasize that monitoring mental health should be a priority alongside academic preparation.

Parents and teachers should closely watch for changes in behavior that may indicate a student's difficulties, such as:

Withdrawal from social events, hobbies, or sports that previously brought pleasure.
Changes in sleep patterns, especially excessive sleeping or constant fatigue.
Consistently low mood, feelings of hopelessness, or emotional numbness.
Comments mentioning a desire to give up, feeling trapped, or feeling like a burden to others.

When such signs appear, immediate and compassionate help is crucial. Instead of offering unsolicited advice, Tlaka suggests initiating a gentle, non-judgmental conversation. He insists: 'When you see this, you want to sit down with your child and ask: 'Hey, are you okay? Can I help with anything?' '

Ultimately, successfully completing high school requires a balance between academic diligence and emotional support. By creating an environment where young people feel safe to express their problems, families can alleviate unnecessary pressure and ensure students receive professional help when needed.

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www.middleeasteye.netSeptember 9, 22:30

New Texas curriculum will portray Islam as radical and brutal

The Texas State Board of Education approved a new social studies program on Friday, according to which high school students will be taught that Islam is 'radical' and 'brutal'.

This decision was made by the ruling Republicans after several hours of hearings where hundreds of people spoke regarding changes to the methodology of teaching religions in the state's public schools. The new curriculum will affect about five million students.

Starting in the 2030–2031 academic year, when textbooks are introduced, the focus will shift to mandatory reading of biblical excerpts, emphasizing the positive aspects of Christianity, and describing early Islamic military campaigns as 'brutal,' although this term is not used for wars waged by Christians.

As reported by the news service Fox4 Dallas-Fort Worth, the study of early Islam will specifically be presented through the lens of slavery and the captivity of women. The September 11, 2001 attacks, carried out by Saudi aggressors and largely planned by 'Al-Qaeda,' will be taught as motivated by 'radical Islam,' rather than political reasons or agendas. Critics have sharply condemned this decision.

iol.co.zaSeptember 9, 20:35

Minister of Higher Education warns about the instability of the NSFAS funding model, forecasting a deficit of up to R33 billion by 2029

The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Pius Manamela, expressed serious concern regarding the financial sustainability of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), warning that the funding deficit could reach R33 billion by 2029 if the government does not revise higher education funding principles.

Manamela stated that the government is negotiating with the National Treasury concerning the current NSFAS deficit of approximately R15 billion. He noted that this financial gap has significantly increased since the introduction of the current student funding policy. The Minister presented the deficit dynamics: last year it was R13 billion, the year before that was R7 billion, even earlier R5 billion, and in the first year of the policy's implementation, it was R2.5 billion.

These statements were made during a meeting with the higher education and training delegation within the National Media Group on Wednesday, where he highlighted the main challenges facing the post-school education sector.

Unstable Policy

Manamela emphasized that the widening financial gap cannot be attributed solely to leadership issues or administrative disputes within NSFAS; the root of the problem lies in the funding policy structure itself. He stated that the situation is caused by a 'policy that is unstable.'

In this regard, he proposed two possible solutions: either allocating the entire necessary amount—R33 billion in the medium term, or revising the methods of distributing these funds among citizens. NSFAS remains a central element of the country's higher education financing system, with approximately R56 billion from his department's budget directed towards this scheme.

The Minister warned that the instability of NSFAS carries far-reaching consequences beyond individual student allowances. He explained that the collapse of NSFAS could lead to universities not receiving payment for tuition, problems with private housing payments, which threatens the student experience itself, and could negatively affect those providing student accommodation.

Despite NSFAS successfully funding hundreds of thousands of students, Manamela considers it unacceptable if even one student does not receive their entitled grant. He specified that the concern is not the fact of paying grants to 800,000 students annually, but the probability that one of these students will be without payment on any given day, which is too great a risk.

Consideration of Income-Contingent Loans

Amid growing pressure on funding, Manamela reported that one of the options being considered to create a more sustainable higher education funding model is an income-contingent loan system. Under this system, students could access education without upfront payment and begin repaying the funds to the state only after their post-graduation income reaches a predetermined threshold.

The Minister noted that in the long term, the possibility of implementing such a credit mechanism is being discussed to make education free for everyone at the point of entry. An income threshold is set after graduation, and the repayment amount to the state is determined based on it. He mentioned Australia as an example of a country that has implemented such a model, but stressed that any South African version must be adapted to local conditions.

NSFAS Stability and Readiness for 2027

Manamela stated that stabilizing NSFAS remains one of his main priorities, asserting that stability depends not only on having a board of directors or an administrator. He clarified that stabilization also implies having competent people in the roles of CEO and senior managers, which is a current concern.

The immediate focus is on ensuring NSFAS is ready for the 2027 academic year. Priorities include ensuring the proper functioning of the board of directors together with NSFAS senior management, preparing for the 2027 academic year, opening applications, finalizing funding guidelines, and resolving student accommodation issues.