13 May 2013

Batlokwa paramount chief, Kgosi Puso has underscored the importance of parents' full time involvement in their children’s education.

Speaking at the southern region excellence awards in Jwaneng recently, Kgosi Puso said it was crucial for parents to provide guidance to children. “Parents need to be  aware that children have no other source of guidance other than that from their individual parents and the collective society,” he explained.

He also encouraged parents to adapt to the changing world since their children were growing up in an environment different to theirs.

However, he advised them to find ways of incorporating the good old values in the current environment to ensure that their children were raised with respect, botho and teamwork.

Such values, he noted, should be instilled by the family in the child’s early stages of growing and learning. Kgosi Puso, who is also Ntlo ya Dikgosi chairperson, said teachers alone could not manage to educate children without the input of parents.

 Such input, he said, should be reflected both at home and at school by constantly monitoring the children’s progress at school. “Responsible parents in educational space are only those parents who are actively in partnership with the school mapping and guiding the education roadmap of their children to the end,” he said.

He noted that it was disappointing to find that some parents did not show interest in their children’s education and did not even bother to attend Parents Teachers Association (PTA) meetings. He said such tendencies were contributing negatively to the education sector and future of the children.

Kgosi Puso encouraged awardees to exercise utmost commitment, determination, hard work and perseverance in their work. He said these were the crucial aspects to a prosperous future.

“Hardwork, commitment and determination coupled with good behaviour will let you pass through all the challenges you are faced with,” he explained.

The award ceremony recognised last year’s high performers in the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLEs), Junior Certificate Examinations (JCEs), brigades, technical colleges, out of school education and training, parents teachers associations (PTAs), teachers and schools.

The recipients came from the regions and sub districts of Goodhope, Lobatse, Kanye, Moshupa, Jwaneng and Mabutsane. ENDS