18 Jun 2014

Mphuthe JSS in Letlhakeng recently hosted Kweneng region Maths Cluster Science and Maths Fair. 

Welcoming students from various schools, Mphuthe school head, Mr Dommy Mothanka encouraged students to work hard in order to be tomorrow’s scientists and future leaders. 

Mr Mothanaka said the country needed many scientists with fresh minds. Mr Motlhanka, a historian by profession, inspired students by narrating a story of Galileo whom he said first discovered that the sun did not rotate but, in fact it was earth that rotated, but he was labelled a liar and killed by the Romans. 

He said Galileo was a great scientist because modern scientists discovered that he was indeed telling the truth. Mr Andrew Moshokwa, South Central Region Science and Maths cluster chairperson told the gathered students and teachers that government did well by recognising Maths and Science as scarce skills.

Mr Moshokwa expressed hope that this will encourage teachers to take their jobs seriously and produce future scientists. He also encouraged students to aim high so that they could excel in their studies.

Kweneng Science and Maths Cluster’s Mr Itebaleng Raletsatsi said the fair went well saying that it was the Kweneng Elimination round. He said the schools, which got number one and two, will represent that area at the Regional fair and if they succeed, they will go for the Nationals which will be held at UB in July. Raletsatsi said most schools did not come because of overtime issues.

He further said overtime issue made the fair a substandard affair as most teachers cannot supervise the students, adding that if teachers work overtime, the authorities complain when they are supposed to pay the teachers.

Raletsatsi singled out projects as being the worst at the fair as they were the ones that require supervision. He said generally, everything area was below the expected standard and some schools did not even participate in some of the competitions. 

Meanwhile, Masilo CJSS got position one in Problem Solving, Maths Collaboration, Computer related projects and Working Models. The school beat the other schools by getting position two in Ecology, Statistics and Quiz. Masilo also got position three in Maths Project (Non statistics). 

Tshegetsang CJSS, also from Molepole got position one in Statistics and Electronics, position two in Maths Collaborative, Computer related project and Science Research.

Dithejwane took position three by coming first in Quiz, number two in Maths Projects (Non statistics) and position three in Maths Collaborative, Working Model and Electronics.

Other schools that participated were Moruakgomo who got position four, Motswakhumo at number five, Sedumedi and Mahupu shared position six, and the host Mphuthe CJSS shared number eight with Kwenasereto and Boitshoko and Macheng took the last position.ENDS