19 Oct 2015

Phase IV Primary School head, Mr Manyika Gwakuba has implored residents of Block 1 in Ikageleng Ward to train their children in using proper language. Speaking in a meeting addressed by Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi on Thursday, Mr Gwakuba said there was a concern of pupils using vulgar language in school.

Mr Gwakuba lamented that some of the pupils went to the extent of writing insults aimed at some teachers in the school toilets.

On other issues, the school head complained that parents abused children both psychologically and sexually, noting that so far the school has reported four cases of sexual abuse to the police.

Mr Gwakuba bemoaned that some of the abused children were doing Standard Two and that in some cases, they were abused by their mothers’ lovers.

He warned parents that since Standard Sevens have finished writing their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), they were vulnerable, especially that they were at the teenage stage. Furthermore, he said since the school has 10 computers, parents who have no plans about their Standard Seven children could approach the school so that they could be engaged in computer training instead of roaming the streets.

A Ward Development Committee (WDC) member, Mr George Ramohube informed the MP that his committee managed to build a cultural village in the open space it was allocated.

He said the village, which was fenced, comprised a mud hut, a water system toilet and a shelter. He appealed to the community to donate cultural utensils such as matlhoa, maselo, dikika and others.

Mr Ramohube said once fully operational, the village would be used by local schools to teach children their culture. He urged residents to register with the Botswana homeless and poor people’s federation so that they could improve on their livelihoods.

On other issues, Mr Ramohube suggested that positions of headmen should be introduced in order to help the customary court presidents to expedite matters. For his part, Mr Mmolotsi said parents should protect their children. He said one way of protecting them was to monitor their movements at all times. Ends