25 Oct 2017

The Department of Education in Maun is investigating an incident in which a Form one student is alleged to have pricked 14 other students with a sharp instruments suspected to be a needle.

The incident took place at Maitlamo Junior Secondary School and the management and some parents are in shock, as the culprit claimed that he was doing it for fun with his colleagues.

Regional education deputy director, Ms Didimalang Mmemo confirmed in an interview, noting that they received a report from the school head concerning the matter.

She said investigations were ongoing to establish the truth about the victim’s claims.

“This is a sensitive issue which needs to be handled with care, and I believe our investigations will bear positive results as we would be able to map the way forward,” she added.

Ms Mmemo expressed disappointment regarding the incident, noting that it shocked everyone because the school was new, and that discipline was high at the school and that all students had embraced it. 

She said the incident required management to tighten their guidance and couselling sessions, and also to teach students that dangerous weapons were not allowed in school premises.

She also called on parents to join hands with teachers in moulding students to be responsible citizens.

The school head, Mr Badisa Tabona explained that the culprit aged 16, was a Form one student and that it was reported that he brought an object suspected to be a needle and injected some of his classmates during study time.

He said the incident took place for three days as it was reported on the third day, and that immediately management sought medical attention, adding that the culprit confessed that he was not doing it intentionally but was just playing with others.

He explained that the affected students were rushed to Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital for treatment, adding that their parents were informed to meet them at the hospital.

He said a meeting was held to inform parents about what happened.

The school head said parents did not take the matter lightly as they insisted to see the culprit, but “we had to protect him as he looked traumatised and we did not know what could happen.”

He said  affected students were undergoing counselling.

He said students were well disciplined, adding that the incident was unfortunate.

The school opened its doors in May last year admitting the first batch of Form ones who were housed at Sedie Junior Secondary School for the first term.

The school was constructed to rationalise the number of students and to relieve congestion at existing junior secondary schools in Maun.

The school staff and some non-governmental organisations such as Love Botswana had preached the value of Botho amongst  students with the expectation that they would maintain discipline up to their final examinations. ENDS