SESHEGO – GR. 8 learners from Bokamoso Senior Secondary School in Seshego participated in a discussion about social issues and the transition to becoming adults on Friday.
Deputy principal, Mahlodi Manthata, said this was a good initiative to engage with them so that they could understand the changes their bodies were going through physically in order to manage the changes physiologically. “Most importantly, it does not interfere with their school work,” she said.
She said they wanted the communication channels between learners and teachers to be open when it came to such matters.
Manthata said the school had produced good results over the years and they wanted to groom learners so that they continued to do the school proud. “We always encourage our learners to work towards excellency. The matric class of 2014 made us proud with a 96,5% pass rate, putting us in third position in the Polokwane district,” she said.
She further said it was important that children were prepared at an early age for what was ahead of them. “Role models are not made in a day, it takes time, but we will be there to guide them so that they can become responsible leaders.”
During the session, Papheus Motlane of Christ Embassy Teen Ministry talked about fighting peer pressure and remaining focused at school. He said learners should start visualising the things they wanted to achieve so that they could work towards them.
Motlane also said they should stay away from bad company because the people one was close to were most likely to shape one’s behaviour. “Some friends could persuade you to use drugs and engage in sexual activities but you can fight this and abstain,” he explained.
“Teenage pregnancy has been a cause of dropping out of school because it is difficult for a learner to balance both school and raising a child.”
The learners said they had learnt a lot during the session. Letsau Manemela, said he did not want to be a victim of peer pressure and wanted to stay in school. “I want to work hard and be a good example in the community. There are a lot of bad influences around us but I want to be committed at school so that I pass,” he said.
