04 Jul 2016

School heads and senior education officers in Mahalapye East constituency have been implored to strengthen parents and teachers association committees in their respective schools to help curb deteriorating behavior of students. 

This was said by the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ms Botlogile Tshireletso in a meeting she had with school heads from both primary and secondary schools in her constituency in Mahalapye on Wednesday.

Ms Tshireletso said students’ behavior left much to be desired as they carry sharp and dangerous objects to schools, carry cellphones, walkman radios which hinder them from paying attention in class, bricks in their school bags to fight others and teachers something which was not good.

She said as teachers they should thoroughly engage parents to step forth and address these situations.

Ms Tshireletso also said the number of students who drop out of school was rising at an alarming rate, adding that some drop out because of teenage pregnancy either by their peers or elders, while some drop out because of lack of parental guidance.

She explained that all these issues should be addressed and it was high time parents intervene and correct all these ills.

Further, she appealed to the school heads to tighten their school rules and take control of parents who sell snacks to students in front of their school gates because they end up selling drugs to students.

She said they should know what these people sell to students because some of them were not real parents and end up injecting drugs such as marijuana into these snacks, something which she said contributed to students displaying bad behavior towards teachers and their school mates as they would be high on drugs.

On other issues, Ms Tshireletso briefed the school heads that the government was trying to improve situations in schools and address the problems of shortage of classrooms, toilets, and teachers houses through the Economic Stimulus Programme.

She said a total of 401 classrooms, 1280 toilets and 486 staff houses would be constructed in 123 schools throughout the programme.

However, she said in Mahalapye East constituency there would be no project for this financial year 2016/17.

She said nine staff houses would be constructed at Flowertown Primary School in 2018/19 financial year at a cost of over P9 million.

Under the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, construction plan from 2016/17/18 nine classrooms and 21 housing units would be constructed at Mookane Junior Secondary School.

Still under MoESD, she noted that three classrooms would be constructed at Morale JSS, four at Pekenene JSS, while other projects would be considered in the three years duration of the programme.

For his part, principal education officer, Mr Elisha Masedi said Mahalapye East consists of 16 schools, 12 primary schools and for junior schools. Out of the 12 primary schools four have reception classes notably, Dovedale, Moineedi, Mookane and Mmuabui Primary Schools.

Mr Masedi said for the past three years the general performance of the primary schools in the constituency was satisfactory while secondary schools were underperforming as they continue to score below average. ENDS