12 Dec 2017

The North West District has recorded 156 cases of teenage pregnancy, four of which involve minors under the age of 16.

The cases involving minors have all been referred to social workers.

From the registered teenage pregnancies, 62 were from Maun alone.

North West District council chairperson, Mr Duncan Enga described the situation as worrisome, saying the future of the affected children was destroyed.

He urged councillors to join hands with parents and teachers in order to tackle the issue.

He added that while the causes of teenage pregnancy were multifaceted, he had observed that the District Health Management Team (DHMT) continued to partner with other stakeholders to address the issue through health education.

Mr Enga also informed councillors that the Ministry of Basic Education was investing in boot camps for learners.

In the district, he said, the boot camps were conducted at two senior schools in Maun and Shakawe.

He said the boot camps would curb behavioural problems that were rampant among the youth which adversely affected their academic performance and career path.

Councillors also learned that the district has continued to enjoy support from different stakeholders since the inception of the Adopt-a-School programme.

He said the district received donations and funding for prize giving ceremonies in different schools in 2017 to the tune of over P1 million from different stakeholders.

Mr Enga reported that 57 pupils at Mathiba Primary School in Maun received shoes from Gigahertz Company while Kwa Nokeng Oil Company sponsored a colouring competition and awarded prizes to pupils at Kubung Primary School amounting to P30 000.

He said the involvement of stakeholders in schools promoted integrity and motivated pupils to improve their performance. He commended stakeholders for their support towards teaching and learning in schools.

The council chairperson also revealed that the construction of two classrom blocks at Sexaxa in Maun, which had been donated by And Beyond had been completed.

The project includes two classroom blocks with a toilet block while the kitchen block, conservancy tank and fencing of the school was ongoing.

Mr Enga said the plan was to complete all the works before the end of the year, and to hand the project over to the council for use when schools open in January.

In addition, he pointed out that consultations had started in similar extension schools such as Boro.

The house was also informed that the district had also received P400 000 from the Department of Community Development to fund the establishment of a play group at Gudigwa, and to improve existing play groups at Somelo, Qangwa, Tobera and Mababe.

He added that each play group had been funded to the tune of P25 000.

It was also reported that the Okavango Sub-district recently held a play group expo which aimed to sensitise rural communities on the importance of early childhood development.

The theme of the expo was: 'Taking early childhood development to the rural area community; A collaborative effort towards a brighter future.' ENDS