21 Mar 2019

Palapye Administrative Authority (PAA) Community Development and Social Services (CDSS) chairperson, Mr Charles Mabjeng, has implored parents to invest in their children’s lives through education. 

Mr Mabjeng said this during Serowe/Palapye Day Care Centre Association (SPDCCA) seminar that in Palapye on March 19.

The seminar attracted pre-school owners, parents and government officials . 

Mr Mabjeng, also Lecheng councillors, said engaging children in early childhood education was a way of investing in their future. 

He said children engaged in early education tended to grow up well disciplined and well informed.

“There are over 1 500 children in day care centres registered under the SPDCCA in and around Serowe and Palapye and this is a very huge number which obliges all of us to take part in the upbringing of these children,” he said. 

He urged the Serowe and Palapye region members of the SPDCCA including the Ministry of Basic Education to work together to upgrade the association’s professionalism. He said parents and the association should strive to raise funds for the organisation.

He encouraged SPDCCA to involve relevant stakeholders like the Council and Ministry of Basic Education officials to form a disciplinary committee that will handle any issues that may arise.

He further encouraged parents to register their children in schools that are under the SPDCCA . 

On other issues Mr Mabjeng urged parents to stop protecting people who abuse children both physically and emotionally. 

He added that people who sexually abuse children should be reported to the police and social welfare officers. 

For her part the vice chairperson of SPDCCA Ms Goitsemodimo Sobeya said the objective of the seminar was to bring together all members and to come up with ways to make improvements on how day care centres should operate. She indicated that the seminar was organised to provide a platform for sharing ideas on improving children’s welfare and issues related to children’s education.

“The SPDCCA acts as an advisory body on children’s education. Also it raises funds for running the association and holding workshops to empower pre-school owners and teachers,” she noted. 

The chairperson of SPDCCA Mr Eric Nwaefuna who is also the vice president of Day Care Centres Association of Botswana noted that they have to work together as parents. He said early childhood education is vital in the upbringing of children both at school and home. Ends