23 Jul 2015

Are we slowly becoming an irresponsible citizenry?

Maybe as Batswana we need some introspection collectively and individually on whether we are degenerating into a lawless and ill-disciplined society.

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama is worried that on many occasions this is the reality.

President Khama says the world changing around us has influenced Batswana’s culture and how they had been doing things.

However, what is more worrisome to him are the negative influences that seem to be dominant in what Batswana adopt from these cultural influences.

“Some of our schools are bedevilled by indiscipline, vandalism, drug abuse and such other undesirable behaviour, says the President. This trend, if not addressed, he says will breed a generation of irresponsible citizenry.

“I call upon parents, teachers, civil society, clubs, and associations, just to name a few, to commit to building a better future for our children.

Committing to our children’s future is not just about buying them school uniform, dropping them at school and providing meals and shelter at home.

It also involves instilling discipline, monitoring their character and school work, providing guidance and giving direction when it is required. Of the 5 D’s, Democracy, Development, Dignity, Discipline and Delivery, it is Discipline which is in deficit in this country,” says President Khama.

The President observes that to root out any evil in society “we must start at the foundation.

The foundation of your life is your early years as a young person.

Go wrong then, and you may go wrong forever. Discipline must be embodied early, at home, at school and at the work place.”

However, Lt Gen Khama says government has made a commitment to confront indiscipline in schools, which without doubt, contributes to poor academic performance.

Occurrences of indiscipline in schools are worrying to say the least, he stressed. Looking back, he says in the past, communities would meet over contentious matters and discourse until a solution was proffered.

Any matter that could not be resolved at home would be resolved amicably through established structures.

Therefore, says President Khama, parents should make use of existing structures in their communities to address social ills at schools.  Ends