20 Feb 2013

The Ministry of Education and Skills Development yesterday met with its stakeholders to map the way forward after the disappointing performance by some schools in the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) and Junior Certificate Examinations (JCE).

In a meeting attended by principal education officers from across the country in Palapye, Minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi said there were many reasons which might have led to students’ poor performance.

Even though some teachers have claimed that they did not know about the new syllabus, Dr Venson-Moitoi said they were informed of the changes in 2009. She also noted that the 2010 public service strike contributed to the status quo.

Commenting on the issue of students who have progressed to senior secondary school after obtaining Grade D at JCE,  the minister said the new grading system did not specify if students had failed or not, adding that some students excelled in certain subjects hence the decision to admit them.

However, she stressed that it was important that all the stakeholders including Curriculum Development and Education as well as Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) have a good working relationship.

She also stressed that the back to school initiative was introduced to give young people the chance to further their studies and improve their grades.

On the issue of graduates who were struggling to get employed, Dr Venson-Moitoi said it would be addressed by the re-tooling initiative which would ensure that those students were sent back to school for Masters Degree to venture into different fields such as research.

The move, she said would help the country reduce dependence on foreign expertise. ENDS