WeeklySA_AdminEFFECTS: Schooling for seven days a week – without rest – could open pupils to burnout and fatigue, leading to mental illness – in turn, the risk of suicide, erratic behaviours and substance abuse…
By Yoliswa Sobuwa
In parts of the country, it’s not uncommon to see pupils in school uniform attending classes on weekends. But education psychologists are sounding the alarm about the detrimental effects extended schooling hours has on their mental health.
Dr Daphney Mawila, a lecturer and education psychologist at the University of Johannesburg, warns that schooling without rest increases the risk of stress, depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. Poor mental health is already high among young people, with anxiety and depression being particularly common.
“[Going to school] seven days a week could result in burnout and fatigue among pupils, which could lead to mental illness. This, in turn, increases the risk of suicide, risky behaviours and substance abuse,” Mawila says. She stresses that adolescents already face numerous adversities, even without the added stress of being in a classroom for seven days a week.
“Healthy coping mechanisms are often lacking among pupils. Attending school daily could increase their vulnerability as they will have limited time to balance their lives,” warns Mawila.
Onelisa* (17) recently passed Grade 11 and has started Grade 12 at Tolweni Senior Secondary School in Mount Frere, Eastern Cape. She says spending more time at school is depressing.
“I wake up at 5 am to get to school at 6:40 am and only get home after 8 pm. It gets tiring because I hardly have time to do anything for myself. On Saturdays we are at school from 8 am till midday and then go back to school from 5 pm till 8 pm,” she says.
By the time Onelisa gets home from school she still has to cook and do homework. “It’s too much. But the extra classes help a lot because my marks have improved,” she says.
Noluyolo* (18) a Grade 12 pupil at Nelson Mandela High at Philippi in Cape Town, says she started attending classes seven days a week last year when she was in Grade 11.
“At first I was excited as it helped in the subjects I struggled with. However, as time went on it became too much.
To always be at school and yet have to do homework and chores left me with a lot of anxiety. Even though I needed a break, I was also scared of failing,” she says. “I think a couple of hours of extra time a week is fine. But attending seven days a week is a bit too much.”
National Association of School Governing Bodies secretary-general Matakanye Matakanye argues that schools that require pupils to be in class for seven days a week were only concerned about producing good results.
“This seven days a week is happening at schools nationwide because provinces compete for excellence at the expense of the pupils. Attending classes for such a long time impacts their mental and physical well-being,” he says.
Experts warn that pushing too hard might have the opposite effect. According to Mawila, overworking leads to fatigue, which leads to poor working memory. – Health-e News
