Onalenna Modikwa
7 April 2008
Selebi-Phikwe — The authorities at Mojamorago Junior School in Selebi-Phikwe's Botshabelo location has sought help from the community to deal with unruly and unbecoming behaviour by students.
The students are said to be involved in illicit love affairs with older men, alcoholism and drug abuse.
At a meeting attended by parents at the Botshabelo Customary Court, the school's headmaster, Khutsafalo Kelaotswe expressed concern that cases of female students' love affairs with elderly men is on the increase. He said the school has already recorded four cases of teenage pregnancy this year.
Worried parents resolved that all hawkers seen selling alcohol to students should be punished heavily.
They resolved that all men involved in defilement should be sacked from work. One parent said the situation at the school is disheartening. He blames parents for sending school going children to buy alcohol and cigarettes. He cited an incident in which five female students were involved in unbecoming acts with an elderly man. He suggested that such men should be taken to court.
Another parent said they are the ones fuelling bad behaviour by attacking teachers who act within their rights to impose corporal punishment on the students. "Some parents lack proper parental guidance and this in turn breeds the situation we are currently in. Corporal punishment must be thoroughly administered and it is the only remedy."
Mothers were blamed for treating their children with kid gloves when it comes to discipline. It was pointed out that children lose direction if parents differ on how to discipline them.
Parents advised school authorities to follow the law to get the situation under control. They agreed to form committees to catch parents who sell drugs and alcohol to students.
"The fact that we receive reports from school everyday about students found in possession of dagga in school indicates that there is a problem. Others vandalise school property to buy dagga. We are aware of a case where one student used others as a wall to hide as he smoked dagga. The students were ordered never to tell anybody or they will get thorough beatings."
The school authorities indicated that they have punished, suspended and even expelled unruly students. But they wanted to know the role that parents play at home to ensure the students behave well.
Botshabelo Customary Court president, Olebogeng Mojuta was embarrassed and disappointed with the failure by parents to come up with ways of controlling their children's bad conduct. She said it is painful to see parents delegating the responsibility of moulding their children to the teachers who are appealing to them.
"You have failed to find a solution and you return the issue back to the school authorities. We have known that the problem is you parents. I bail out the school and you parents will see what to do," he said.
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