Parents and teachers in Tlokweng have raised concerns about the declining standard of education in the area.
The two stakeholder groups expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation during various kgotla meetings held by the area Member of Parliament (MP), Phenyo Segokgo. The main issue cited was the behaviour of some learners who seem to take their education lightly. However, parents emphasised the need for collective efforts from teachers, government, and families, as the pass rate in local schools has drastically dropped. One parent, Tshegofatso Kenewang, urged her counterparts to take more responsibility and not solely rely on teachers.
She stated, "I urge parents to stop relying only on teachers. Parents aren't forthcoming to collect their children's reports unless we punish those students by preventing them from attending classes, which isn't good. There is no way a student can be serious about his or her school work when, in fact, a parent seems not to care." Kenewang further pointed out that some students frequently skip classes or fail to attend school entirely, and parents often only become aware of this when school management reaches out. She noted that only a few parents demonstrate commitment to their children's academic performance. Another concerned parent, Gofaone Nkwe, called on residents, especially those who live or are renting in Tlokweng, to work together with the Batlokwa community. "It hurts at times to see children dodging school and coming back home when their mother/(father) have gone to work. "This is because there is no relationship between Batlokwa and those who reside here by virtue of work. I plead with you, let’s hold each other's hand when it comes to children," Nkwe expressed.
Nkwe also expressed concerns over the behaviour of some students, who have been reported for insulting and physically assaulting teachers. Gaone Tsabeng, another parent, urged for a change in how children are supported financially. He suggested that parents should stop giving money to their children for school, as students are already provided with meals at school. He warned that providing excessive money could lead to harmful behaviours, such as drug use. "Money has destroyed so many lives and children," Tsabeng stated. In response to these concerns, MP Phenyo Segokgo acknowledged the seriousness of the education issue and expressed his desire to meet with schools management and key stakeholders to develop strategies to improve the situation. "The performance and situations in our schools are sad. We need parents and the business community who care about Tlokweng to join hands with us to address these issues," he remarked.
Regarding the recent flooding issues, Segokgo urged the council and its chairperson to ensure that residents are adequately assisted. He clarified that his office would only intervene if problems arose at the District Commissioner's office. According to Segokgo, all reported cases had been addressed by the council, as they have developed a communication plan to manage such challenges. Segokgo addressed concerns about plot allocation and undeveloped plots. He reassured the community that since he had invited landlords to the meetings, he believed they would attend to these matters. Furthermore, he noted that several government departments had pledged their support and willingness to collaborate on resolving issues within Tlokweng. Segokgo was in addressing gatherings in Tlokweng where, some meetings took place even on the weekend, intending to engage the community.