06 Jul 2014

Parliament has been informed that since 2008 there has been a general concern throughout the country that the majority of schools started to experience a decline in performance.

Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Keletso Rakhudu said a number of factors contributing included students indiscipline manifesting itself in a series of incidents involving students sneaking out of school at odd hours to indulge in substance abuse.

He said vandalism had been prevalent in Kagiso senior secondary which included burning portions of the hostel. He decried the inadequate involvement of parents in school affairs, saying they have reneged on their responsibilities and relegated them to the school as evidenced by failure to attend Parents Teachers Association meetings and collect students’ reports.

Mr Rakhudu said the aftermath of the Industrial action in 2011 resulted in teaching being impacted negatively. He noted that the ministry has put in place strategies to improve learner performance not only in Kagiso secondary, but other schools as well.

“The school was included in the turnaround strategy training for low performing schools. From December 2 to 6, 2013 senior management in the school was trained on performance improvement. A follow up training for all teachers was conducted in January 2014 and was later followed by a monitoring visit in May 2014 to further support the school,” said Mr Rakhudu.

He explained that the school was inspected from August 13 to 17, 2012 and again on June 5 and 6, 2013. He said the inspection revealed amongst others, poor adherence to policies, poor curriculum delivery and inadequate structures to address students’ concern.

“Some volunteer groups like the ‘Four Subject Club’ in collaboration with the Regional Education Office have assisted students through tutoring. Teacher’s houses and boarding hostels have been maintained, but the rest of the school is still awaiting major maintenance to make the school more conducive to learning,” he said.

He noted that as a way to reduce movement of students seeking medical attention outside the school, a resident nurse will be employed soon through the on-going School Improvement exercise. Interviews were conducted last month.

Mr Rakhudu said beginning July 2014 the Regional Education Office will have a Sub-regional office in Ramotswa headed at the level of chief education officer to bring services to the school and sub-regional closer.

He was responding to a question from South East South MP, Mr Odirile Motlhale who wanted to know whether the minister was aware that Kagiso senior secondary has been among the bottom three in terms of performance for the last couple of years. He also asked the minister what caused the situation and what strategies were in place to improve it. ENDS