23 Aug 2015

Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development,Mr Moiseraele Goya has advised students to wait for the right time to start their own family and in the meantime focus on their studies.

Speaking at the official opening of a career fair hosted for  Shakawe schools by his ministry, Mr Goya said he was worried about students who continued to fall pregnant before they become adults.

He said the government was spending hugely to invest in their education; therefore it was wise for them to use such an important opportunity.

“Both government and parents are spending huge sums of money in your education but there are no returns on such investments,” he said, noting that he was not pleased by student performance in public schools.

The assistant minister said his ministry was doing everything it could to improve students learning outcomes in all schools but it seems it is an effort in futility. 

He said hosting a career fair served as another form to make them see opportunities and enable them to have a glimpse of their career choices. 

As such, he advised the students to take charge of their lives urging them to choose blue collar jobs rather than white collar ones.

The head teacher of Shakawe Senior Secondary School Mr Petrus Mosomane said the career fair was significant for preparing students for career opportunities available. 

Mr Mosomane said his school was doing well in sporting activities and that the volleyball, karate and boxing teams have qualified for the nationals.

However, he said he was still worried about the pregnancy rate, pointing out that every term they lost students due to pregnancy. 

He also said students were using stimulants such as dagga, marijuana, and glue sneezing, which worsen their school performance.

When giving closing remarks, the area Member of Parliament Mr Bagalatia Arone advised students to study hard saying he was also worried that parents did not attend Parents Teacher Associations (PTAs) meetings as expected. 

Mr Arone appealed for the construction of an airport in the area saying it was necessary for tourists coming into the area. 

Taking part at the career fair were the Department of Tertiary Education Financing , Botswana Examinations Council , ABM University College, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Limkokwing University, and many more. Ends