25 Jun 2023

Member of Parliament for Kanye South, Dr Lemogang Kwape has advised Seepapitso Senior Secondary School pupils that their conduct will determine their future. 

Speaking during a visit to the school last week, Dr Kwape, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said he was deeply concerned about the pupils’ unruly behaviour, which he attributed to the use of drugs, hence the school’s poor examination results. 

He informed them that in the past, the school performed well, further noting that there was still time for them to mend their ways, and be a source of pride for their school. “This school has produced national leaders such as Vice Chancellor of University of Botswana, Professor David Norris, and former Minister of Agriculture Mr Patrick Ralotsia” he said. “I am also a product of this school.” 

Dr Kwape said sometimes learners held a misguided belief that they knew better than their teachers and parents. He advised them that life was full of challenges and this was the time for each of them to prepare for the future. He implored them to stay away from drugs and focus on their studies. 

“Who you are today and how you conduct yourselves determine what you will become in future,” he said. “So you have to prepare for your future now,” He advised them that employers do a background check on potential employees, and that wayward conduct could make it difficult for them to find employment in future. 

He said as future leaders, learners could build or destroy the country, adding that for them to positively contribute to the development of the country, they had to start now by acting responsibly. 

Dr Kwape said it was vital for all stakeholders to work together to mould students into responsible future leaders. He added that the community also had impact on students’ conduct. “We have to act now, because if we do not, it would be the same as breeding criminals,” he said. 

Dr Kwape indicated that he was in consultation with different stakeholders to host a workshop that would include parents, teachers, pupils and other interested parties to address the issue. 

The school head, Mr Petrus Mosomane, informed the minister that the pupils’ disrespectful behaviour, which he also attributed to the use of drugs such as marijuana, had gotten out of control. 

Mr Mosomane pointed out that the school had previously engaged parents in a bid to find a solution, but this was a futile exercise as some parents defended their children’s conduct. 

“We believe some parents are abused by their children at home, hence they feel compelled to defend them,” he said. He said they had also sought the assistance of Kgosi Malope II of Bangwaketse, who heeded their call to come to the school and address the learners, but there was still no change on the part of the pupils. 

Mr Mosomane said they had since engaged the Botswana Defence Force to help organise a boot camp, which would be held at the end of the term. 

A representative from Botswana Institute of Rehabilitation and Re-integration, Mr Mothei Sejakgomo advised that close monitoring of pupils in and out of school was vital to arrest the use of drugs. 

He cautioned the learners that drugs were not only destructive, but addictive as well and that it was difficult to quit once one got hooked. 

Mr Sejakgomo said his organisation intended to adopt different schools around the country, starting with Seepapitso Senior Secondary School, in an effort to instil discipline through different strategies, which would ultimately improve examination results. 

“We would not only be focusing on pupils, but all stakeholders such as parents. We have noted that some parents need guidance on how to raise children to lead responsible lives,” he said. ends