22 Mar 2013

Minister of Education Skills and Development has expressed concern over the rising number of drug abuse cases recorded in schools.

Addressing Gaborone Senior Secondary School (GSS) Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) executive committee on March 21, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi cited GSS as one of the schools that have recorded the highest number of cases associated with the use of dagga.

So far, 34 cases had been recorded and the minister blamed those parents who either sell or give dagga to students to sell to their colleagues.

Dr Venson-Moitoi called for collective efforts from the society to curb such illicit acts, rather than leaving the burden to teachers. She also stressed the need of clerics, Dikgosi and other leaders to come on board to help with solutions.

On issues affecting the learning process, the education minister said there was need to avail teaching equipment and materials to make teaching easier and interesting.

She said her ministry was supposed to receive 112 houses in Gaborone while some would be constructed at the new Mogoditshane Senior.

Of the 112 houses, she said there had been delays on issues surrounding inspections. Though Dr Venson-Moitoi considered leasing private houses as one of the solutions to the long term teachers’ outcry of shortage of accommodation, she lamented of inflated prices when such deals are negotiated by the government.

The minister also touched on issues such as decongestion of salary structure, hours of work and the rights of teachers to industrial action.

In his welcome remarks, the school head, Mr Khangelani Tshebo appreciated the ministry’s efforts of renovating the dilapidated school structures which had not been suitable for learning.

He told the meeting that so far his assessment results had not picked anything negative from the progress made by Form 4 students who proceeded with Grade D.

Mr Tshebo said most of these students are doing double sciences adding that of the 831 Form 4’s, 209 proceeded with Grade D. He said such students have not suffered any discrimination as teachers embrace them like any other students who met the requirements.

For his school to have tremendously progressed from the last to the fourth position in the latest Form 5 results, Mr Tshebo is convinced that the turnaround strategy worked well.

He cited the targets and goals set by students and the prize giving theme: “My setback paves way for my comeback" as some of the driving forces to the school’s achievement. He noted that the school has three students enrolled under the Back-to-School initiative.

The PTA chairperson, Ms Mmoniemang Motswetla complained that parents are not active in helping teachers shape the future of their children.

Ms Motswetla, a devoted and dedicated member since 2008 appealed to the minister to arm members of the association with skills that could help them deliver as promised. ENDS