School going days are a formidable time in the life of the youth. A time for adventure, a time to explore oneself and the world, to gain a subjective comprehension of life and the world, as well as the individual’s role in the bigger scope of society.
The school is perceived as a breeding ground for people to develop values, skills and harness knowledge that will assist them in navigating the world, creating a comfortable quality life for themselves, and contributing to their community’s development.
The home, however, is the foundation of children’s development because it is here where their concept of self and principles are formulated. Some young people, however, fail both the social structures, leaving parents, teachers and members of their communities defeated.
Young people have however proven to be excitable or even rebellious at times. In few cases, it has advantages. Think about the class of 1976 in neighbouring South Africa. A group of learners mobilized themselves to protest against being forced to have their classes conducted in Afrikaans.
Police stormed the streets of Soweto and shot at the crowds, to disperse protestors. Many lives were lost, but this incident spotlighted the qualms and plight of oppressed non-whites during the apartheid era.
Fast forward three decades later, the social and political landscape has changed significantly in that country, following the action and developments that transpired during that period.
Here at home, we aren’t synonymous with protests and strikes; being known as a peace loving and politically stable country. However, there have been several cases where young learners have unleashed a shocking rebellious and hooligan behaviour.
In the early 1990s, learners in Mochudi and Gaborone went on the rampage, angrily demanding that police and government intervene on the disappearance of Segametsi Mogomotsi, a learner at Radikolo secondary school, who was suspected to have been murdered for ritual purposes.
A few days after her disappearance, the 14-year-old girl’s body was found in an open area, naked and mutilated. Infuriated locals, led by youth, sparked riots demanding answers. Scotland Yard had government and police on their toes. But until today, the findings on the matter have not been released.
Students at the Radikolo School, which is the same one Mogomotsi attended, have recently threatened to protest against continuing ritual murders and disappearance of young children.
Two years ago, students almost brought the country to its knees with spates of unrest and angry protests following the public workers’ strike. Learners complained that the absenteeism of teachers disadvantaged them as they were lagging behind in their studies syllabus and would probably not perform optimally in their year end examinations.
Kgari Sechele secondary School students in Molepolole took to the streets, toyi-toying and singing derogatory songs, and even pelted police with stones. Lobatse secondary school learners followed suit after they had written a letter to the Minister of Education, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi. When she allegedly didn’t respond to their queries they went on the rampage, destroying property.
Last year September, at Ledumang Secondary school in Gaborone, students attacked teachers and vandalized property in an unexpected spate of hooliganism. Very recently, Maun Secondary school has been involved in allegations of Satanism and student nuisance behaviour after dog parts and snake heads were discovered in school classrooms, disrupting lessons. The bloodied messages also raised fear and alarm. Police were roped in to patrol the school while the matter was investigated.
The 1997 Martin report on school discipline concluded in Botswana asserted that the quality of teaching is key to maintaining discipline in schools. It must be noted that such behaviour is rampant in public schools. Can fault be found with the quality and depth of the education fraternity or its sheer youthful delinquency? This behaviour has been blamed on problematic students by education ministry officials, teachers and parents.
However, it appears this juvenile behaviour extends from the home-front. For example, the people of Thamaga are up in arms over youth who terrorize villagers. These youngsters, who call themselves ‘Merubisi’ (owls), are reportedly involved in muggings, robberies, beatings and vandalism.
Thabiso Kelebeng and his wife have struggled with a delinquent son, who is now at the Moshupa boys’ prison.
“My son is a 19 year old delinquent. I only love him because he’s my child. We raised all three of our children in the church, and instilled positive values within them. My son was a good child but he became a rebel when he hit his teens. We thought it was just a ‘stage’ but he culminated in stealing, smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol and staying out late on weekends. When he was in Form 2 I was summoned to his school because he was implicated in a case of drinking on school property and allegedly raping a female learner. I was embarrassed and disappointed. Last year he was arrested on a count of theft, assault and rape,” cries the disturbed parent.
Kelebeng asserts that he has on numerous occasions engaged the local police, his ward councilor, family elders and even the church but his son never changed.
“He doesn’t respect himself, us as his parents and other people. Hopefully, after his sentence his mind will start to operate like that of a normal person!”
However, it’s not only male children who display wayward rebellious behaviour.
Tshepo Tau* is a 22-year-old mother of two children aged 7 and 4, with different fathers. She failed her BGCSE two years ago and is currently unemployed.
“I was a fun loving girl and frequented bars and nightclubs. I had sexual relationship with some man and ended up falling pregnant. At least he supports and visits the child although we aren’t on speaking terms. The second child I had with a guy from my neighbourhood who turned against me after impregnating me. He’s a nightmare I want to forget. I used to drink and smoke cigarettes but have since quit as I want to turn over a new leaf,” she says as she wrings her hands wryly. She’s lucky as her parents and siblings assist her with money and take care of her children. She says she plans to re-write her BGCSE next year as “things are tough out there without an education”.
As I’m still chatting to her, a top-of-the-range sedan pulls up nearby. The young woman’s face lights up. As she winks at me, she mummers that the man should give her money. I ask if it’s her father or uncle. She gives me a dirty look and saunters off shaking her figure, clad in skinny jeans and a flimsy top which tease the outline of her ample assets. As she melts into a lingering embrace with the notably much older man, it’s easy to note that he’s a lover.
Perhaps it’s true that a leopard never changes its spots? The generation of rebels without a cause is giving many elders sleepless nights of worry and fear.
