20 Jan 2015

Parents of students living at the Hunhukwe RADs hostels in the Kgalagadi District have complained about the conditions and social welfare of students residing in those hostels.

One parent, Mr Otlhaetse Marulwane told the area Member of Parliament, Mr Itumeleng Moipisi in a kgotla meeting in Kang on January 19 that the students’ welfare was of great concern.

Mr Marulwane said even though they were grateful of government efforts to provide education facilities to rural dwellers, they were concerned that students continued to escape from RADs hostels citing lack of recreational facilities and bulling by other students.

“A lot of RADs children are not used to life away from their maternal guidance and turn to miss out on their natural home environment and struggle to adapt to boarding life. Orientation needs to be done before separating children from their families to prepare them for hostel life, as doing so might reduce the number of students escaping from hostels,” he said.

Students also complained of lack of social basic amenities such as clothing and toiletry supplies from the Social and Community Development officials, said Mr Marulwane.

For his part, Kgosi Maitirelo Xhiite of Maretshwane ward in Kang also raised a concern about students’ living condition and welfare at the hostels, adding that in the past, there had been drop-outs due to pregnancy. He noted that such pregnancies were a clear indication that students were involved in sexual acts while at boarding facilities.

Kgosi Xhiite said parents were at some point denied access by the school authorities to visit their children at hostels and were asked to seek permission from the council authorities before visiting their children. He further said students are also transported on open trucks even during winter seasons.

In response, the Hukuntsi Sub District Council Social and Community Development official, Mr Tshepiso Molefhe said his department was equally concerned by the high number of students escaping from the RADs hostels, noting that they had put all measures in place.

He said the Hunhukwe RADs hostels currently have four dormitories housing 171 students. Boarding master, matron and caretakers do ensure that there was adequate provision of student welfare and adult parenting. Mr Molefhe noted that the majority of hostel personnel are well trained on student care and counseling.

Regarding lack of toiletry and school uniform supplies, Mr Molefhe said the council provides school uniforms to RADs students every two years while private clothing is supplied regularly. Furthermore, he said it was a challenge to lure parents to visit school premises because of the distance between the school and its catchment areas.

He however said the school management was working on an outreach program on how best to reach out to parents. In future, he said there would be organised parents’ tours of hostels in order to give them first-hand experience of hostel life. ENDS