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The Congress of South African Students (Cosas) is calling on Grade 12 pupils to boycott newspapers that publish matric results.

Cosas national spokesman Bongani Mani told African Eye News Service that pupils suffered unnecessary trauma due to published results, with some committing suicide.

“We are calling on all learners not to buy newspapers on the day results are published. These newspapers are only interested in making money while the students are enduring trauma,” said Mani on Wednesday.

Mani said basic education minister Angie Motshekga had no practical solutions to the problem of pupils who commit suicide due to the shame suffered when matric results are published.

“The minister… does not know how to deal with this issue,” he said, suggesting that the best way is for pupils to get their results from the school. “At school, pupils will able to get assistance from the teachers, who will help them understand their results.”

Last month, the department released a statement confirming that matric results would be published in newspapers.

Basic education department spokesman Panyaza Lesufi promised to respond to questions e-mailed to him on Wednesday, but failed to do so.

The Mpumalanga education department also urged pupils to get their results from their respective schools.

“Pupils should tell their parents to accompany them to their schools and get their results. The teachers will able to help them with everything that they need to know in that moment,” departmental spokesman Jasper Zwane.

Grade 12 pupil Nobuhle Ngobe from Mathipe High School in Marite said she would get her results from her school.

“I think publishing our results in newspapers is a bad thing because, if I have failed, those who hate me will know that I did not make it,” said Ngobe.

Another pupil, Musa Mabunda, from Masana High School in Bushbuckridge, said he would also get his results from his school.

“If my name does not appear in the paper my friends will laugh at me and I can’t take it,” said Mabunda.