Rising incidents of violence among school children and growing tension within families have prompted calls for collective community action to promote peace and emotional discipline among both youth and adults.
During a recent community engagement event, Sexaxa Primary School Head, Keabonye Maoto, highlighted disturbing trends in learner behavior, recounting an incident where a fight between two students escalated to one being stabbed with a pen.
“This is no longer just misbehavior, this borders on criminal conduct,” she warned. “We need to address the root causes of violence and teach children how to manage conflict peacefully.”
Maoto emphasized that schools cannot carry the burden alone, urging parents and guardians to become more involved in the moral guidance of their children. She noted that poor discipline at home often spills into the classroom, endangering other learners.
But the issue isn’t confined to children. Community leaders say emotional and verbal abuse among adults is also rising, particularly within households. Matlapana Ward’s Kgosi Tapologo Mosika expressed concern over the normalization of insults and aggression between partners, which sometimes results in physical altercations or even fatalities.
“These tensions don’t just stay in the home they set the tone for how our children resolve their own disputes,” said Kgosi Mosika. “We must lead by example.”
Both leaders criticized a troubling new trend where parents respond to bullying by retaliating directly against the offending child. “This only fuels the cycle of violence,” Maoto said, urging parents to instead report incidents and collaborate with schools.
Mosika encouraged residents to seek spiritual grounding through the church* and to practice patience and emotional restraint in resolving conflicts.
The call from both school and traditional leadership was clear, building a peaceful community begins with accountability at every level from homes, to schools, to public spaces.
Meanwhile in a different engagement, Maun Police Station Commander, Superintendent Joseph Lepodise, has urged students to steer clear of delinquent behaviour and focus on education as a foundation for their future success.
Superintendent Lepodise was addressing students of Tshwaragano Junior Secondary School this week, where he cautioned them against crime-related activities such as theft, drug and alcohol abuse, bullying, and vandalism. He stressed that such conduct, often dismissed as minor mischief, can escalate into serious offences that ruin young lives.
“The decisions you make today will determine the kind of person you become tomorrow,” Lepodise said. “Our wish is not to see you in trouble with the law but to see you succeed as responsible and productive citizens.”
The police chief revealed that Maun has seen worrying cases involving young people, especially those linked to substance abuse and peer pressure. He called on parents, teachers and to work together in instilling discipline, respect, and self-control in children.
“Crime does not only affect the individual involved,” he added. “It brings shame and pain to families, schools, and the community at large. One wrong choice can ruin your reputation and close opportunities for a brighter future.”
