Hostels escape worries Matsheng JSS
Boikobo Mmolai | Wednesday July 2, 2025 06:00
Matsheng school head, Shadrack Keatlholetswe said students escape from hostels despite the considerable distances involved. Speaking during a recent school tour following a donation ceremony by Baitshephi Social Club, Keatlholetswe revealed that last Friday, five students from surrounding areas informed their parents of their desire to stay at home rather than remain in the hostels. Keatlholetswe explained to the media that the social work department expects parents to provide food and toiletries for their families when children are at home.
He said, unfortunately, many parents are unable to meet these expectations due to large family sizes. He added that despite these hardships, students persistently refuse to stay in the hostels. Keatlholetswe recounted a heartbreaking incident from last year, where a boarding girl escaped from the school hostel and was brutally murdered by her suspected boyfriend. Before this tragedy, he disclosed that disciplinary meetings had been held with the student, as it was not her first escape attempt. 'Even now, students continue to escape, often claiming they are going to visit their partners who live outside the school borders,' he said. The school head further revealed that some of these partners are farm workers. He said the farms are guarded by dogs trained to protect the property, which once led to an incident where police officers assigned to track and return escaped students were thwarted by the farm dogs attacking them. Matsheng school has also recorded three cases of teenage pregnancy, which Keatlholetswe described as significant.
During the discussion, Sojwe councillor, Tshetlha Sentlhaga discloded another case where a girl attributed her pregnancy to a boy living outside the school borders, though the boy denied responsibility. The school has a policy of administering 10-day suspensions. This approach serves not only as a disciplinary measure but also provides parents with an opportunity to engage with their children and guide them toward desirable behaviour. The school also collaborates with social workers, such as Molale from Sojwe, to address and rehabilitate delinquent behaviour. Keatlholetswe described the current student behaviour as worse compared to the era when corporal punishment was still in place, emphasising that students are now aware of the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education’s stance and government policies. 'I have instructed staff and teachers that if they notice any student exhibiting disruptive or irritating behaviour, they should bring the student to my office, where I will administer appropriate discipline,' he stated. Importantly, the school has not recorded any incidents of abuse or misuse of corporal punishment since its abolition. Keatlholetswe also highlighted that the school enrolls students from more than 15 schools across the constituency, with approximately 95% of its students benefiting from the Social and Community Development Programme (S&CD).
This programme, he said, however, has exacerbated some social issues, as many students feel a sense of maturity due to receiving coupons and being breadwinners for their families. Reflecting on his previous tenure at Madiba Senior Secondary School in Mahalapye, Keatlholetswe recalled a drug peddling problem involving about 10 students out of a population of around 2,000. The students caused widespread harassment throughout the school. In response, Madiba JSS convened a Parents Teachers Association (PTA) meeting that included social workers, police officers, and students to address the issue collectively. He said he believes that a handful of students could spoil the rest of the student body. He urged parents to take responsibility when their children are suspended, emphasising that, 'charity begins at home.' He encouraged parents to discipline their children to a level where the children reflect on whether their behaviour would make them proud and earn their parents’ approval before making any decisions. Keatlholetswe also advised school staff to exercise caution in their communication with students. Regardless of personal feelings at the moment, teachers and staff should always speak to students respectfully and professionally, as this is in line with the policy of the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education.