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By Lebone Rodah Mosima
KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka has urged schools to make mental health awareness part of their culture, warning that learners are facing growing pressures that can contribute to disengagement and dropping out of school.
Hlomuka was speaking on Tuesday at Anton Lembede Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST) School during the launch of the Digital School Mental Health Pilot Programme, developed in partnership with Cloud Therapist.
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He said young people were navigating a difficult environment marked by academic and peer pressure, social media, bullying, family challenges, economic hardship, violence, uncertainty about the future and, in many cases, trauma.
“For our matriculants, these pressures can be particularly intense. The Matric Class of 2026 is approaching one of the most important milestones of their schooling journey,” Hlomuka said.
“They are expected to work hard but also to remain focused as they prepare for examinations that can open doors to further education, training, and employment.”
Hlomuka said behind every matriculant was a young person with dreams, fears, insecurities and challenges that may not be immediately visible.
“This is why mental health awareness must become part of the culture of our schools,” he said.
“Through these programmes, we are creating environments where young people can talk.”
He said the department had found that many young people, particularly boys, viewed asking for help as a sign of weakness or something unacceptable.
Hlomuka urged schools and parents to teach learners that seeking assistance was a sign of strength.
“Hurt people hurt people – including themselves. We see this sometimes in the behaviour of young people. A learner who bullies another learner may be carrying pain of their own,” he said.
“A learner who is aggressive may be responding to circumstances we know nothing about. A learner who withdraws from others may be struggling silently.”
He stressed that understanding the circumstances behind harmful behaviour did not mean excusing it, saying accountability remained important.
However, he said responses should go beyond punishment by focusing on prevention, awareness and early intervention.
“That is why prevention and awareness can help us identify that pain early for an opportunity to intervene before it becomes destructive – either towards others or towards the young person themselves,” he said.
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“Often times, knowing that somebody cares can make the difference between giving up and carrying on.”
Hlomuka said learners should be encouraged to work hard while also taking time to rest, talk, seek help and look after their emotional well-being.
He said the digital component of the programme was important because young people were increasingly comfortable using technology.
“We know that technology does not yet have the capacity to replace the human relationship between a learner and a caring teacher, parent, counsellor or professional,” he said.
“However, using platforms that they are familiar with can help us bring information, awareness, and support closer to learners.”
Hlomuka stressed that the pilot was not a programme developed by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, but an initiative conceived and developed outside the department.
He said the department supported the initiative because of its potential to benefit the education sector and was not seeking ownership of it.
“Our role is to support it, to encourage it, to learn from it, and, within our means, to help create the conditions in which its benefits can reach more learners and more schools,” he said.
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