Discipline among teenagers has greatly deteriorated, particularly those in schools. They have become unruly and totally uncontrollable.

Just last week, there was great cause for alarm about school children who go outside Rwanda to sell their bodies to get money for upkeep while in school.

During a Radio Rwanda interview, young girls had the guts to say that they were going to Uganda to make money. One student went as far as saying, "Dad, it’s my body and so I’m free to use it the way I want.”

It’s known that students from universities and even secondary have been doing this and people were not surprised when it was aired on radio.

Charity begins at home, the adage says. If you look at our teenagers’ dress code, a lot is left to be desired.

They all dress half naked but call it cool. Surprisingly, it’s the parents who buy such attire for their children. As if that is not enough, they even go out with them.

Now parents, are you really grooming your child into a home angel or a street devil whom you will in turn send to school tomorrow? Don’t you think what you have failed to control, the teacher will manage?

It is time parents groomed their children responsibly. Children are enticed to try out the forbidden but in most cases it is the duty of parents to bring up their children well.

Parents tend to blame schools for their undisciplined children, but they too have a major role to play.  

Parenting requires a lot from the parents. Talk to your child about sex education; discuss the risks involved in sex without marriage, early pregnancy and early parenting. Discuss the dangers of interacting HIV, STDs and other related effects.

Parenting calls for duty even when your child is at school. Go an extra mile to check on your child’s behaviour and performance.

A parent should always yearn for the best from his children. Groom the child in a way that prepares her to live in a harsh world of reality.

It is of no issue if your daughter has boyfriends but there should be boundaries while interacting with the opposite sex.
Parents should help their children behave well.

Telling them reality helps them understand that behaving well is not because you have said so, but because it is the right thing to do. This will prevent our children from doing all sorts of evil.

The author is a teacher at Kagarama secondary school
shebs10@yahoo.com