28 Jun 2016

Kgosi Kgari III  of Bakwena has launched the stakeholder engagement initiative framework which intends to address the deteriorating students discipline and help improve students’ academic results. 

Launching the framework in Molepolole on June 24, Kgosi Kgari III said it was now upon the stakeholders to perform their roles as stipulated in the framework. 

The meeting brought together all the relevant stakeholders being parents, teachers, pastors, dikgosi and the education sector. 

He noted that improving students’ academic results as well as addressing indiscipline called for a collaborative effort by all the relevant stakeholders.

He noted that pastors would spiritually guide the students while dikgosi would work hand in hand with the police to address issues of crime and indiscipline in schools.

 Other stakeholders would also perform their roles to meet the framework objectives.

Giving the background of the framework, Kgari Sechele Senior Secondary School head, Mr Lapologang Kolagano said two years ago, school heads had a meeting with Kgosi where they raised their concerns in regard to indiscipline in schools as well as poor performance in students’ academic results.

Mr Kolagano said Kgosi Kgari III was also concerned about the situation at schools and the meeting came up with the initiatives to deal with those concerns. 

Mr Kolagano said Kgosi Kgari III assigned ward headmen to schools to ensure that discipline was sustained, adding that the Ministers Fraternal also did the same with pastors to provide spiritual support. 

He said through the stakeholder engagement initiative framework, everyone’s role had been documented to ensure everyone played their roles accordingly.

Speaking on behalf of the students, Boitshoko Junior School Student Representative Council president Mr Tiroyaone Batshwareng said they embraced the initiative. 

He said it would fill the gaps by bringing everyone on board especially the community structures in addressing issues of juvenile delinquency and students’ under performance. 

“My fellow students let us not see this initiative as a monster but rather an effort to better our academic results and bring about behaviour change,” Mr Batshwareng said.

Giving a keynote address at the launch of the framework, The Queen Mother of the Royal Bafokeng in South Africa, Dr Semane Molotlegi commended Kgosi Kgari III and the stakeholders  for coming up with the initiative saying where there was unity and cooperation, the initiative would bear fruits.

She also said students needed to be disciplined and not necessarily by their biological parents but by the community. 

Dr Semane told students to shy away from things that could disturb their education like engaging in sexual relationships at a young age just for material gains. 

They were also advised to shun alcohol and drugs which are dangerous to their health. Ends