11 Sep 2013

Ghanzi Senior Secondary School recently elected Students Representative Council (SRC) to address issues of indiscipline, sport, academics and health as well as welfare of students.

A teacher at Ghanzi senior, Mr Tswelelo Mokwafe said the SRC would be a link between students and the school’s management. He said the SRC was meant to motivate students to have a role in electing leaders and to address problem of voter apathy among the youth. 

He said the youth understood each other better than anyone, hence the importance of a student body to address their issues. He further noted that the outgoing SRC was able to address issues amicably. The role played by the SRC in a school, Mr Mokwafe said, did not only address indiscipline as there were also issues of academics.  

He stated that the past two years had seen Ghanzi senior improving academically.  He encouraged other schools, which did not have student bodies to establish them as they had proved to be effective.

On other issues, Mr Mokwafe said they had a challenge of female students who seemed not to come forth to compete for positions in the SRC.  He said in future they planned to have a quota for female students as a way to encourage them to take part in leadership. 

He also encouraged 18-year-olds to take part in national elections and encouraged them to register for the 2014 national elections. Meanwhile, administration officer at Ghanzi Independent Electotoral Commission IEC), Mr Carthage Modisane said they had introduced democracy youth clubs (DYC) in schools, as a way of involving young people in the electoral process. 

Mr Modisane said the initiative started this year at senior and junior schools country wide. In Ghanzi region, he said the clubs are at Ghanzi senior school, Itekeng junior school, Marakanelo junior, Rethuseng junior and Tshimologo junior schools; explaining that the clubs work as mini IECs at schools.  In the past, he explained that the IEC used to have school visits, but said with youth clubs are moving away from school visits.

Mr Modisane further noted that the clubs are informed of the circle of the IEC; pre-election, election and post-election times.  He also stated that through the clubs, students will be aware that IEC office is not dissolved after the general elections as most people perceive.  ENDS