28 Aug 2014

South East Region chief education officer, Mr Moses Tshetlhana says they are still monitoring progress at Kagiso Senior Secondary School following the school’s dismal performance last year.

In the Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) results, the school recorded a 14.25 pass rate hence becoming the second from the bottom after Shakawe Secondary School.

Mr Tshetlhana told the South East District Council session on Tuesday that they continued to audit and inspect the school to avert the last year situation. He said during the previous inspection, they picked that there were several issues which could have contributed to the school below par performance.

Among the issues identified, he said was the general welfare of the staff which included shortage of accommodation as well as the aftermath of the 2010 industrial strike. Furthermore, he added that the school had also been faced with problems of indiscipline among the students, which also contributed to the problem.

“It seems as if our students are occupied with other things other than the core, which is learning,” Mr Tshetlhana added. Another challenge, he said emanated from the fact that most of the parents transferred their children out of the school because of its previous academic performance.

He said this year alone, about 85 pupils who have obtained grade A and B have been transferred out of the school, which leaves the school with only those who attained grade C and D.

In the middle of this, he said they are working with their principals at the ministry of education to address problems facing the school. He said they are conducting extra lesson for the students as well as working with other stakeholders to help them. Further, he said the school and the parents teachers association has engaged private tutors, that are not paid by government.

He stated that the school is undergoing some renovations to improve its aesthetics. He added that despite the poor performance, the school head has to account for the results adding that the current school head has only less than two years at the helm of the school.

The region principal was summoned to the council after councillors questioned the school’s performance and also wanted to be briefed on who has engaged tutors for the school and also to establish who pays for the tutoring services. ENDS