Norkem Park High School hosts prayer day
Ward Commitee members pray against social ills and challenges faced by school children.
Newly elected ward committee members of Ward 91 held a prayer day for school children at Norkem Park High School on May 2.
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Led by the sector representative for faith-based organisations in Ward 91, Reverend Sipho Mngomezulu and ward councillor Desmond Mckenzie, learners from Norkem Park High School and surrounding schools were introduced to the ward committee members in their different sectors.
Mckenzie said it was important for learners to know the leaders in their community and familiarise them with the different channels where they can get assistance.
“We hosted this prayer day because we want the learners to know that their leaders are standing with them, ” said Mckenzie.
Parents, learners from surrounding schools as well as pastors from various churches gathered on the Norkem Park High School soccer field as they prayed about the many challenges facing school children.
Sector representative for community safety Ntombizakhe Mcaba highlighted the importance of guiding school children in their way of life.
“Having seen all that has happened in the past few weeks with the Leondale High School learners smoking dagga on the school premises, we acknowledge as the newly elected committee that our children are facing countless challenges – not only in Leondale but Norkem Park High and the surrounding schools in our ward.
“It is disheartening to know about children being involved in uncalled for and immoral activities that might lead them to conflict with the law, resulting in not finding employment in the future,” said Mcaba.
Speaking at the gathering the school’s head boy, Reaatlegile Makgoba, expressed an appreciation for the day’s event. He also noted the issue of learners being ill-disciplined, displaying unruly behaviour and substance abuse among others.
“Mr Mckenzie, we hope that the good Lord will have mercy upon us as learners. We hope that your prayers will breathe life into our school and the society at large. We hope that learners will stop substance and alcohol abuse, be encouraged to focus on their academics and begin to know that there is a thin line between enjoying your youth and destroying your future. We believe that help need not only be physical or financial but also spiritual,” said Makgoba
The principal of the school, Hasani Chauke, said many people in the community who condone the unruly behaviour of learners did that not in the best interest of the school. He said most challenges faced by the current generation are different from the previous generations.
“The issue of ill-discipline in schools is not unique, because almost every school has this challenge. We are facing many issues and one of them is called the 40 days of corruption. Many of our learners come from informal settlements and are subjected to poverty, as well as drug and substance abuse.
“We also know of people in the community that continue to bring the name of our school to disrepute and not everyone that comes to the school has the best interests of the school at heart. We have to stand together to protect the image of the school and our learners because we cannot always have negative things associated with our school,” said Chauke.
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