06 Oct 2014

The progress of an educational institution is assessed not only by the academic excellence which students achieve but also upon the role it plays in instilling discipline, sense of confidence, attitude of cooperation with others and principled commitment to country and people.

Speaking during the 25th anniversary of the founding of Borwa Junior Secondary School recently, Mr Joel Ramaphoi, the senior manager operational risk at Stanbic Bank said he believed that no stone was left unturned in providing necessary tools needed to build up the school into the current mature, vibrant and world class institution that offered the best secondary education for the citizenry.

He said celebrations such as this were also occasions for remembering and saluting the founders and dedicated teachers and head teachers who in diverse ways had committed themselves to nurturing and shaping the young minds entrusted to them.

Mr Ramaphoi stated that the theme for the anniversary “basic education in the 21st century; the role of parents and stakeholders “is rightly put as this is a century of knowledge and revolution in information and communication technology.

He said with the advent of internet, computers, distance education and on-line education, learning is at the threshold of a revolution hence educators must strive together with stakeholders to make education the most vibrant and dynamic force to respond to changing and challenging times and needs.

Mr Ramaphoi called on educators and policy makers to ensure that instructional programme is complete and content is not short changed for an ephemeral pursuit of skills but rather new assessments are needed to accurately measure richer learning and more complex tasks.

He decried parent’s participation in their children’s education adding that parental responsibility for the social, spiritual and emotional development has now been demitted by parents and left to teachers.

Further, he said research show that children who do well are those who are given support at home by their caregivers and who are allowed to play and learn through play.

“Children cognitive development is enhanced by parents who read to them regularly when they are very young, yet many parents are unable or unwilling to read to their children. They unfortunately see little value to this practice,” said Ramaphoi.

Mr Ramaphoi commended the government for a great progress in educational reforms especially for benefiting the less advantaged students. In his welcoming remarks, Borwa Junior Secondary School Head Mr Montshiwa Teo said the 25th anniversary was a major milestone achieved by Borwa School looking back to where they come from.

He likewise commended the founders of the school for laying a firm foundation more so that for the past few years the school has been performing well.

Mr Teo implored parents to be more proactive and participate in their children’s education because their future is built while they are still at school.

He said parents should know that it’s their responsibility when it comes to their children’s education to make sure they do well at school not teachers alone.

The school head expressed worry that some students drop out of school due to pregnancy but information has revealed that some elder people are the ones to blame.

Mr Teo said since he came to school no student has dropped out due to another student therefore calling on parents to care for their children and be open on issues of sexuality so that they understand the implications of engaging in sex at a young age. Ends