MOKETE Molehe (41) uses chess to discipline pupils.
Molehe, a teacher at Ikanyegeng Combined School in Jacobsdal, said a colleague brought four boys who were up to no good to his class.
Realising the kids were playing dangerous games which could destroy their lives, Molehe decided to teach them chess instead.
The pupils started playing chess in May last year. The teacher said he started a chess club with support from parents.
Today Molehe has 11 competitive players who are champions in the Letsemeng municipality.
He said he planned to enter the chess club for bigger tournaments because he can see how passionate they are about the strategic game.
Molehe said the pupils misbehaved because they didn’t have activities to keep them busy.
He urged teachers and parents to find different ways to discipline kids without scaring them.
“I’ve come to realise that there are many good ways to discipline and motivate kids in order to teach them the right ways of life,” he said.
Molehe, who has been teaching for about 10 years, told Daily Sun his experience has taught him to be patient.
He said he knew it would take a long time for the pupils to change their ways.
“I invited them every day after school to my house to practise,” he said.
“They had all given up their bad habits within a few weeks.”
Since then girl pupils have also joined the chess club.
