The article in City Press,CityPress20071021p39.pdf>“How to cope with stress of matric exams” (21/10/07, p. 39) is one to be glad of, and should be highly commended. It brings attention to and promotes the interests of children, accesses expert sources, includes children’s contributions, and adopts a responsible approach to children’s welfare.
In the first place, the article, written by Nonzwakazi Cekete, highlights the experiences that young people go through writing matric exams. These include a heavy work load and pressure from peers, parents, teachers, community and themselves. The article shows how these and other external factors, can contribute to depression, anxiety, stress, and potentially, in a case referred to, collapse and admission to hospital. By focusing on these experiences, and bringing them to the attention of the public, the article takes seriously, and promotes, the welfare and interests of children.
Secondly, the article has accessed experts for their contributions, including a college life-skills facilitator and counselor, and the national clinical and operations director at Independent Counseling and Advisory Services. By accessing these sources, the article is informative, rather than dramatic or emotional.
Thirdly, the article also accesses children themselves for their views and experiences. By doing this, children are portrayed as responsible, valuable and resourceful human beings, whose opinions should be listened to and respected. The children’s contributions include accounts of how they cope with matric exams, which provides useful information to other young people, who are going through similar experiences, about what they can do themselves.
The inclusion of children’s views is in line with a range of legislation and good practice relating to children’s rights and the media. These emphasise the right of children to express their views [1], ,“especially in matters affecting him/her”[2] and refer to the need to encourage the media to “portray positive contributions of young people”[3]
Finally, the article, using its range of sources, provides useful practical information to children about how to cope with matric exams, including the dangers of stimulants and other drugs. The article also includes some past matric papers, and tips for parents as to how they can help their children.
This shows a responsible and ethical approach to journalism, whereby the opportunity is used to educate, inform and contribute to the well being of children. Endorsing this approach, the “United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (The Riyadh Guidelines)” states: “The media should be encouraged to ensure that young persons have access to information and material from a diversity of national and international sources” [4]
MMA would like to congratulate City Press for this article which serves to promote the interests and rights of children.
NB. To read a full PDF version of the article, click on the “read more” link.
[1] For example, International Federation of Journalists.1998 “Children’s Rights and.Media: Guidelines and Principles for Reporting on Issues Involving Children” and African Union.1990. “African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child”
[2] Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. 1989. “United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child”. Available at http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/k2crc.htm
[3] Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. 1990. “United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (The Riyadh Guidelines)”
[4] Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. 1990. “United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (The Riyadh Guidelines)” . Section D, ‘Mass Media, no.40.