02 Oct 2015

Maun Senior Secondary School head, Ms Selebatso Modisaemang has raised concern about the high number of teenage pregnancy in the school.

She said the school recorded nine cases of drop outs due to teenage pregnancy this year. “This is worrisome, nine is a big number and it calls for all stakeholders to come up with remedies to correct the situation,” she said.

Ms Modisaemang told stakeholders when briefing them about the school’s achievements and challenges. She said some of the challenges included alcohol and drug abuse, noting that seven Form 4 students were recently caught with drugs. 

In addition, she said five Form 4 students were also caught drinking alcohol, and that all were punished accordingly. The school head said  it was worrying that some parents sell drugs to students. Ms Modisaemang commended Form 5 students for good behaviour, noting that none of them were associated with the above incidents.

She also complained about day students, saying some of them were not safe at their homes.

She said they recorded three cases of rape this year where students were attacked by rapists in their homes. Ms Modisaemang revealed that the school management was forced to transfer some of the victims to a different environment.

She questioned parental care and guidance at home, adding that some students were staying alone. She urged parents to look after their children and to ensure they live in a safe environment.

“These children are fragile and we have to make sure they live in a safe environment to protect them from activities that could affect their studies and ruin their future,” she said.

Ms Modisaemang also told stakeholders that the school was performing better academically and in other extra curriculum activities.

She said the hearing impairment unit has made the school proud as one of the students from the unit was amongst the top achievers and managed to secure a scholarship abroad. She said the unit was not well established, but that the teachers and students were excelling because of commitment.

Ms Modisaemang also noted that the school managed to compete in several fairs and were the national champions in chemistry, mathematics and science, geography and physics.

She was optimistic that the school would be among the top 10 in the Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) results. Ends