31 Aug 2015

Deputy permanent secretary for basic education in the Ministry of Education and Skills Development Mr Simon Coles has applauded teachers and non-teaching staff of Phaphane Primary School for scooping position one in the 2014 Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) results in the region. The school scored a pass mark of 90.1 per cent.

The institution has been consistently posting impressive academic results over the years. Giving a keynote address at the celebrations recently, Mr Coles said the occasion followed many months of hard work, determination, perseverance and commitment by all critical stakeholders.

He said it is gratifying to note that the school is proving itself as a centre of academic excellence.

“I must also hasten to mention that this celebration today comes at a time when the national academic results across all levels are continuously declining. Reasons for this poor academic spell are varied and maybe justifiable in some quarters, but it is my fervent hope that an occasion like we are celebrating today will undoubtedly motivate other schools to work harder in order to attain academic excellence,” he said.

Mr Coles said academic excellence does not happen by chance. He observed that it is a result of the strategic planning exhibited by the school leadership. He added that sound institutional leadership is synonymous with academic excellence. 

He said he was informed that some teachers sacrificed their weekends to assist learners without requesting overtime pay. He described the conduct as a commendable spirit of patriotism and unwavering devotion to duty. He also attributed the academic success story of the school to supportive parents. He said parents continue to play a vital role in the education of their children through parents and teachers associations.

He urged parents to continue supporting schools and their children so as to get good results.

He said that the Ministry of Education and Skills Development launched the national PTA in April 2012, having realised the importance of PTAs in supporting teaching and learning. He said the national PTA was launched along with the education mentors initiative. He noted that the ministry appreciates the role parents and education mentors play in schools. He said the ministry will continue to support the structures.

For her part, the school head Ms Kekgopye Ramadila said the school first opened its gates in 1977 and has since kept a reputable academic track record. She said for the past 10 years, the school has consistently topped all the 37 primary schools in the Kgatleng region.  Ms Ramadila promised that the school will celebrate the same victory next year as they plan to work even harder this year. Ends