10 Dec 2019

Secretary of Ntlo ya Dikgosi, Mr Moroka Moreri has urged the youth to abstain from illegal behavior and actions that may be dangerous to their lives.

He said this at the official closing ceremony of the boot camp after Kgari Sechele Senior Secondary School hosted a 14-day boot camp aimed at moulding pupils into better citizens. 

He urged the pupils to stay away from drug and alcohol abuse and to develop a fighting spirit within them to defeat the challenges they would come across.

Mr Moreri further encouraged the youth to remain committed to their academic work in order to compete with the top ranked schools across Botswana.

He pledged to sponsor an award for Setswana, saying the best pupil would win a trophy and a family weekend at any Cresta Hotel. Mr Moreri said learners were lucky to have people who mentored and equipped them with life skills.

He said there has been changes in the education sector which has seen improved learning conditions, and that initiatives such as boot camps were not available for yesteryear learners.

“You are fortunate government offers you free education and even school uniform and food. You must use this opportunity because education improves one’s confidence and lifestyle. Even if you are not gifted academically improve and work on your other talents,” he said.

Mr Moreri commended Botswana Defence Force (BDF) for being part of the exercises and imparting life skills to participants. He implored parents to support pupils and ensure that they utilised the skills they acquired.

For his part, Kgari Sechele School head, Mr Lapologang Kolagano said the two weeks of the boot camp capitated learners on discipline, physical fitness, emotional intelligence and patriotism.

“I am very glad that we hosted our 4^th boot camp in Kgari Sechele and it was a success. We are one of the shools which still take boot camps seriously. I can even attest that even the pupil’s mood is different from when they stared two weeks ago. It is a positive move that they are now different people,” he said.

He said few complaints were recorded during the boat camp and that some parents complained that their children were being abused. He advised parents to support the boot camp as it helped build and shape their children’s behavior.

Mr Kolagano said through collaboration with stakeholders, the school has lived the objectives and purpose of the boot camp because pupils now perceived things in a different perspective.

He urged pupils to apply the skills they acquired from the boot camp such as working hard and being focused. He also  commended pupils for their spirit of giving back by donating chairs to six different wards and sanitary pads to less fortunate pupils.

“Different people have been talking to you for the past two weeks capacitating you on issues of drugs, teenage pregnancy and discipline and being patriotic. Therefore, it is up to you to take the message into consideration and use it to improve your lives. It will help you to be responsible citizens after finishing Form 5,” he said.

Major Chadiwa Boroga of BDF said they had been working with the school since the boot camp started capacitating pupils on discipline, “which brings stability and structure in a person’s life.” ENDS