Support is a dial away ahead of matric results

The Department of Social Development has opened its Gender-Based Violence Command Centre to matriculants who may be anxious about their examination results.

The matric Class of 2019 will receive their results on 7 January and reports of depression and suicide tend to be on the increase during this time. The department urged matriculants and their parents to make use of the command centre to receive counselling and support from trained social workers.

The department also appealed to parents to look out for any signs of depression from their children and seek help early.

Deaf callers can interact with the centre using Skype. They will need to add ‘HELPMEGBV’ to their contacts and a social worker will accept the invite and contact them.

Calls to the command centre are free. The number is 0800 428 428. Callers can also request that a social worker from the centre contacts them by dialling *120*7867# (for free) from any cell phone.

The Social Development Department has wished all the 596 720 social grants beneficiaries well who sat down for their matric examinations last year. “The department wishes to remind the grant beneficiaries who will pass and be accepted at institutions of higher learning that they will no longer be means-tested by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) when they apply for financial assistance,” the statement read.

The department also encouraged those who failed their matric exams to take advantage of the Basic Education Department’s Second Chance Matric Support Programme. “This is available to support learners who will be wishing to use the second opportunity to sit for exams. We encourage learners to register at their schools or district offices.”

Related Article: 

https://fourwaysreview.co.za/321792/d-day-for-matrics-of-2019/