30 Mar 2014

The Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) has decided to enroll with Botswana College of Distance and Open Learning (BOCODOL), 97.5 per cent of 624 Shakawe Senior Secondary School students, who failed their 2013 Form 5 examinations.

Making a statement in Parliament on March 26, the assistant minister at the ministry, Mr Patrick Masimolole said the enrollment was mainly to ensure that they were given a second chance to improve their results during the 2014 BGCSE examinations.

Mr Masimolole further said the students essentially benefitted only four school terms out of the six terms allocated for teaching and learning. He noted that BOCODOL would provide materials and tutorial support to the students in the different subjects that were offered at BGCSE towards examination time around September this year.

He added that there was also a challenge with some students at the school who were awarded an X in Biology and the Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) was investigating the issue and will be resolved soon.

Mr Masimolole said his ministry had taken steps to improve the teaching and learning environment at Shakawe through the change of the school management, purchasing of library books and installation of internet.

Furthermore, the ministry had ensured that repairs were undertaken to fix water leakages, which subsequently improved water reticulation in the school

He said all equipment for sports and recreation was in place as this was a boarding school and the students had to be provided with recreation to relieve them of academic pressure.

Mr Masimolole said the food provision had also been improved resulting with happier students who were ready to participate effectively in their education.

The ministry hads also suspended six teachers who were involved in illicit or amorous student-teacher relations that the ministry abhored, the assistant minister said.

He further said they were of the view that with all these interventions, the school will improve the achievement of its students to an acceptable level that is acceptable. He added that consultations with the parents of the students will be done. Ends