School head rejects UDC sanitary pads

The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) have accused Maun Senior Secondary school management of planning to reject the philanthropic gesture of the party donating sanitary pads to students.

When addressing a press conference in Maun midweek, UDC parliamentary candidate for Maun East constituency, Goretetse Kekgonegile explained that branded UDC sanitary pads are being distributed throught country in schools. He said it is unfortunate that some bureaucracy within the education sector feels that UDC branded pads are politicizing the education system but also questioned the pros and cons of distributing sanitary pads to schools irrespective of the organization.

Kekgonegile said it is unfortunate that Maun Senior Secondary school headmaster, Selebatso Modisaemang brags that she will never allow the UDC to get into the shcool to donate the sanitary pads. “It is surprising that the school head is a woman, who knows the pains of the girl child on menstrual periods. She is misrepresenting women to an extend of her calling another school head of Tshwaragano Junior Secondary School and trying to influence her to do the same. That women is a devil,” Kekgonegile fumed.

 The Maun East parliamentary hopeful said the party will make sure that whether she likes it or not the UDC is going ahead and they are going to donate sanitary pads at Maun Senior Secondary School. “She does not own that public institution or a child in Maun Senior as those children belong to us parents. They are part of our community, and we are responsible for our children,” said Kekgonegile.

Kekgonegile also explained that UDC has a vision for a girl child in Botswana, and also believe  that women in Botswana are disadvantaged from the early ages. “A girl child is not enrolled from school to marriage, schools enrol the girl child and missing lessons because of monthly periods is a very traumatic experience.  It is unfortunate that when an organization has identified a need in a society some people want to block it,” he said, warning that those managing public institutions should not use their political affiliation to block assistance offered by any organisation.

Kekgonegile said they have identified institutions of learning in Maun East constituency such as Maitlamo Junior Secondary School, Maun Technical College (MTC), Tsodilo Junior School and Maun Senior school.

Maun Senior school head, Modisaemang refused to comment on the matter referring this publication to talk to the Regional Education Director in any matter regarding the school.