Students given condoms during boot camps

Students from various senior secondary schools around the country were given condoms last year during boot camps to prepare them for life after secondary school.

Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Fidelis Molao said there’s nothing wrong with giving students condoms during the boot camps, which were held from November 30th to December 20th last year because it’s part of the sexual and reproductive health programme, which they are taught in school.

“What is being done at the boot camps is not that we will be encouraging the students to engage in sexual activities but we will be preparing them for life after secondary school”, said Molao in response to a question from Member of Parliament for Selibe Phikwe West Dithapelo Keorapetse who asked the minister if it is true that students were give condoms during boot camps last year.

Molao further stated that the schools that took part have reported that students were well behaved and portrayed high level of discipline and commitment.“ However a few schools reported some incidents of indiscipline including petty theft, absenting themselves from class and minor vandalism. “The boot camp attendance was recorded at 50 percent with 12 878 out of 25 632 Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education completers attending”, he explained.

Six out of 32 schools did not have the boot camp and these are Gaborone Secondary School, Kagiso Senior Secondary School, Ledumang Senior Secondary Schools, Matsha College, Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School and Naledi Senior Secondary School.