Youth urged to commit to studies
ALEXANDRA - Youths have been called on to think locally but act globally in pursuit of their development and self fulfilment.
Youths have been called on to think locally but act globally in pursuit of their development and self-fulfilment.
This was said by Labane Maluleke, chief executive officer of the Alexandra Clinic at Youth Day celebrations at the clinic attended by secondary school pupils, clinic management and residents.
Maluleke urged pupils to always remember history and to credit children who died in 1976 protesting for better education and improvements in their lives. “Their sacrifices should encourage you to exploit opportunities for better education through technological improvements which they did not have,” he said. “Use technology to engage amongst yourselves and with peers globally to improve yourselves, and to seek solutions to national and international challenges.”
Refoloe Khunou of Bohle ba Africa, a youngster in 1976 and main speaker on the occasion, appealed to pupils to be more conscious of the importance of education. He said freedom had presented opportunities which should incubate them into visionary leaders of tomorrow. “Unfortunately the current Youth Day celebrations do not emphasise the importance of good behaviour, self discipline and commitment to education. They instead were turned into parties for alcohol consumption and indulgence in unprotected sex resulting in unwanted pregnancies,” he said.
Miriam Makhubela, board member for the clinic said the freedoms were often misconstrued, leading to failure in distinguishing rights from responsibilities. This led to ill discipline and lack of commitment to learning. “Students ought to know that they should commit to studies from the first day of school which most of them don’t,” she said. “Instead, they resort to sangomas for help leading to serious emotional traumas and personality disorders when they fail examinations.” Makhubela also expressed concern about satanism which was present in Alexandra schools. She urged parents to be watchful of it through children’s conduct and to seek counselling from the clinic if their children claimed to see visions or acted strangely.
In addition to counselling, the clinic’s youth services include termination of pregnancy, treatment of HIV/Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases. “Our motto is for students to rejoice in their youth by accessing clinic services,” she concluded.
