Play a leading role in your children�s education � Setiko

Lindiwe Mozola | Tuesday June 21, 2016 15:31

Addressing multitudes of students from Tswapong area that had thronged the kgotla in commemoration of June 16, Standard Chartered Bank Palapye branch manager Phillip Setiko, noted that what happened in South Africa in June 16, 1976 has affected African nations at large. He said children lost their lives fighting for their rights to better education.

“However, in solidarity with the saddening incident that happened to thousands of students that lost their lives fighting for their education rights, we should make education the key component of our lives. Parents should ensure that their part is notable as well,” he said.

Setiko noted that back in the days, parents were more involved in education as compared to today. He said this could be traced back when Batswana united in building the University of Botswana to ensure that their children got high quality education.

He said that it was through parents that today’s society consists of highly educated people. He said it is a pity that today, although there are many educated people than back in the days, the role that they play is limited hence the reason why students results have been deteriorating.

He said parents should make regular visits to schools to monitor their children’s performances and behaviour.

He also encouraged children to desist from bizzare acts that hinder their education, such as alcohol and drug abuse and sexual misconducts with elderly people, which is trending nowadays.

He noted that there is no way one can attend school and still indulge in those acts because one way or the other schoolwork will be affected.

He said that teenage pregnancy is one of the major challenges that have befallen the country and in most cases the perpertrators are elderly people who are not ashamed to sexually abuse children.

“But it is up to us as parents to teach our children moral values as well as how to handle themselves when approached by these perpetrators. I also encourage the girl child to refrain from being materialistic since these vultures use that as a way of using them,” added Setiko.

On his part, councillor for Majwaneng Daniel Ookame shared similar sentiments. He said that defilement cases were increasing in the country because of irresponsible men who do not treat children with respect.

He said that the commemoration of June 16 reminds people of the children‘s rights and that the right to education is paramount.

He also noted that he was happy because at this point in time children have a better understanding of issues such as defilement and this can help in curbing such immoral acts.