19 Aug 2015

Students have been advised to refrain from conduct that could land them on the wrong side of the law.

This was said by Detective Sergeant Portia Molathwa of Bobonong Police Station at an orientation workshop held by Mafetsakgang Primary School for their standard 7 pupils in Bobonong recently.

Mrs Molathwa stressed that they should guard against negative social influences as they prepare to transition to secondary school in the near future

She advised the pupils that crime usually starts with one stealing small objects. 

She warned that such behaviour can grow to serious offences which are punishable by law.

She said teenage pregnancy is escalating at an alarming rate in Bobonong and surrounding areas, and urged parents to be vigilant so as to notice their children’s sudden change of behaviour. 

She said the long vacation after the Primary School Leaving Examinations is likely to tempt pupils into unbecoming behaviour.

She advised parents to be open to communicating issues with their children. 

She said that this could create a sense of closeness and trust between parents and children so that the latter can open up about the problems they are facing.

Giving an overview of the purpose of the workshop, Ms Keboetse Senamo, a teacher at the school, stated that it was vital to orientate the pupils on their next phase in life. 

She highlighted that a new environment often comes with diverse challenges hence it was imperative to equip them with skills to guide them in making the right choices.

Mr Orapeleng Seagateng, a community and development officer, urged parents who need financial assistance to contact the Social and Community Development Office as soon as their children are admitted at secondary school.

He stated that some parents do not notify their office well in time to request for their children to be exempted from things such as payment of school fees. 

He noted that his office can only help if it is involved early on, and not when a student has accumulated a huge debt of school fees.

The school head, Mr Nteba Nakedi, said that they have been fortunate not to be affected by social ills such as teenage pregnancy, alcohol abuse and truancy. 

He encouraged the students to keep up their good behaviour as they progress to secondary school. Ends