School dropouts become more prominent due to social ills
Principal Teffu says it always feels like a loss because we know that a solution to their problems may not come to pass without education.
POLOKWANE – It is becoming more evident that there are high volumes of teenagers dropping out of school for various social reasons. One of the most common reasons that teenagers drop out of school is to step up and become head of their households.
In most instances, we find this issue in underprivileged homes where scholars are forced to drop out of school to focus on parenting their siblings.
“We are faced daily with child headed family issues as well as teen pregnancies. It always feels like a loss because we know that a solution to their problems may not come to pass without education,” said Mosima Teffu, principal of Khaiso High School.
Teffu indicated that they try to find solutions by engaging with social workers, the department of health and involve legal guardians to discuss the best possible solution to prevent learners from dropping out.
Sewela Lewele, who had to head a family at an early age, says she would never wish that traumatic experience on her worst enemy. “Even though I won and raised graduates on my own, I still wish things would have turned out the other way. Losing parents and having my relatives turn their backs on us taught me the hardest lesson,” said Lewele.
She also mentioned that cases like this should be taken more seriously.
Lewele said even if she won the battle she was exposed to, there may be someone out there struggling to get through.
“I hope and pray that God grants strength and courage to teenagers who had to take over after the passing of their parents. I hope they know that they are queen and kings,” she added.
