20 Jan 2026

Sound parenting remains the foundation for raising responsible children who will one day become pillars of their families and society.
This was the central theme delivered by Kgari Sechele II Senior Secondary School head, Ms Baaitse Kebobone during a recent parents workshop.

Held under the theme :Parenting a 2026 Candidate for Academic Excellence, aimed to unite parents, educators, and stakeholders in a collective effort to transform the school into a center of excellence.
Ms Kebobone reassured attendees that learners progressing to senior secondary school were not destined to fail the Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE). She emphasised that the students were rigorously assessed and selected by the Ministry of Education after completing their Junior Certificate (JC).
“Any Form Five learner who fails the examination does so by choice,” Ms Kebobone said, asserting that students are capable but may not be putting in sufficient effort.
She expressed confidence that school would silence critics who doubt the potential of students from Molepolole, asserting the school’s ambition to become a benchmark of academic success. Ms Kebobone likened learners to diamonds needing polishing to reach their full potential.
She highlighted the impressive rise in academic performance, noting that the school improved from position 20 in 2021 to 16 in 2022, then climbed to third place in 2023, narrowly slipping to fourth in 2024. She remains optimistic about leading the national rankings in the forthcoming BGCSE results.
The focus of Kgari Sechele II school, according to Ms Kebobone, is on nurturing learners academically and behaviourally. She stressed the importance of collaboration between parents, teachers, and learners, as a united effort could yield success.
Pastor Ms Bonolo Mmereki-Bunns of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) also contributed to the workshop, aiming to equip parents with essential skills for raising well-rounded children.
She defined a well-rounded child as one whose upbringing enabled them to face life’s challenges without succumbing to destructive behaviors. Ms Mmereki-Bunns warned parents against irresponsible conduct, highlighting that children often imitate their parents’ lifestyles. She urged parents to embody decency and integrity in their actions.
“A child’s character must be built at home. A child taught trustworthiness grows into a responsible adult,” she said.
Discipline and boundary-setting were also focal points of her address, as she noted the necessity for children to understand acceptable behaviour. She cautioned against negative peer influence, which could lead to bullying, substance abuse, and immoral behaviour.
Ms Mmereki-Bunns encouraged learners to report misconduct, emphasising that silence allowed unacceptable behaviour to flourish.
Additionally, she advised parents not to shy away from correcting their children, pointing out that neglecting discipline could foster indiscipline.
She encouraged families to seek help when relationships become strained, reinforcing her message with a quote from Proverbs 22:6:
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” ENDS