21 Sep 2016

The managing director of 21st Century Educational Consultancy Mr Cedric Ramabele-Molosiwa has urged parents of students who attend Moeng College in Lerala/Maunatlala constituency to actively participate in Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) activities.

Mr Ramabele-Molosiwa was speaking at a price giving ceremony at Moeng College recently. He said statistical report from the school management indicates that participation of stakeholders especially parents in school activities is in the negative.

“Perhaps that is the reason why the school academic results and success show a decline”, he said. He said being active and attending PTA activities such as fundraising, report collection and being a committee member in school committees affords the parent the opportunity to build friendship with teachers and school authorities.

Mr Ramabele-Molosiwa added that it also affords parents the opportunity to learn through social interaction and network by so doing acquiring firsthand information about challenges facing learners and the school.

He said the regular presence of parents at school creates a positive attitude for the learners. He said parents and community members are encouraged to volunteer for specific school activities, events and programmes, to join school improvement teams, school advisory council and to become mentors for schools.

He said research shows that students whose parents are involved in their education are more likely to adapt well to school, attend school regularly, earn higher grades and test score, have better social skills and have better relations with their parents and have high self-esteem.

He said he was aware that parents may have constraints and challenges but the essence of the matter is that a committed and accountable parent should always find time within their tight schedule to attend to the needs of their siblings.

The headmaster of Moeng College, Mr Abram Thapedi said their responsibility as parents and teachers is to guide and teach the students to be responsible future leaders.

He said for the country to continue being hailed as the epitome of democracy in Africa, reputable leaders of integrity have to be raised.

He said during the 2015 examinations his school produced 17.72 per cent and this is a low performance. He however noted that his school was given an input of 13 per cent and there has been an improvement of four per cent. He appealed to parents to encourage their children to study hard for the coming examinations.

Mr Thapedi pointed out that he was happy because some people have noted their improvement and appreciated their efforts and this is a source of inspiration to them as a school.

He said despite the low performance in academics, his school is doing well in co-curricular activities such as volleyball, boxing, karate, table tennis, drama, athletics, netball and tennis.

He said the statistics from their pastoral care office show that since January 2016 a number of students were involved in theft and this kind of behavior must be condemned with the contempt it deserves. He said his school also has reports of some students going out of school to the school to do bad things. Ends