Students talk about falling pass rate

RUSSO LUMA
Correspondent | Friday September 3, 2010 00:00

Various contributory factors have been cited for poor results. Even some students accept that they are partly to blame for poor results.  Those interviewed noted that there is more focus on fashion, partying and clubbing amoung their peers than schoolwork.

'Most of the students nowadays look at school as a waste of time. They are so much into cellphones and social networks like facebook on the internet.  They love texting and that at times interferes with their school work,' said Tshepiso Cayla Kamanga, a Form Three student at Setlalekgosing JSS. Boitshepo Nteseletsang, who attends the same school concurs; 'Sometimes one just gets bored with reading and they put the book aside and turn to their phone and start texting friends.'

Tshepiso and Wedu Tawana, another student say they have observed that many students are more concerned about fashion than education.  The two girls said that, students, particularly girls find themselves forced to go out with older men who can buy them fashionable clothes.

Wearing fashionable clothes makes them fit in with their circle of friends. 'It's difficult to talk them out of this because they would not listen,' Wedu said. The two also indicated that most students love clubbing and this affects their schoolwork. 

'Students go to clubs and girls never worry about transport because their boyfriends have cars, so they can take them home.'

 When asked how parents leave these children to go out at night, they said, 'They sneak out or they lie to their parents that they will be sleeping over at their friend's house whereas they will be going to clubs and boyfriends. Even 13-year-olds at primary school do stuff. You see it seems to be all about people following the western lifestyles.'

The two girls suggested that older men be educated against going out with schoolgirls. Tshepiso said parents should take control of their children.  Wedu said there should be a dividing line between parents and children in terms of what they wear. She said that some children do not respect their parents because of the clothes they wear.

The students also said teachers play a hand in the falling pass rate. They suggested that teachers avoid preferential treatment towards gifted students, as that marginalises slow learners therefore making them disinterested in school.

'Some teachers just focus on gifted students and forget about slow learners. Sometimes they use offensive language that is so discouraging. Imagine being told that you won't get anyway in life because you don't grasp concepts as quickly as other students. That is so discouraging,' Tshepiso worriedly explained.A parent, Olebogeng Groenewald blames American lifestyles that young people copy as a factor that misleads them. 'America is a developed country, but we are a developing country. 

They have more money than we do. Trying to live like Americans makes them look for money to buy those things that would make them live like Americans,' Groenewald says.

'Some parents spoil their children so much that they end up losing focus on their learning. They should avoid doing that and buying them fancy things. They should be close to their kids and know them,' said another parent, Florence Nteta.  Boitshepo Nteseletsang, a Form Five student at Mater Spei College also feels that some parents spoil their children to the point that the children stop caring about their work.