Speaking at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) victory party hosted by the school recently, Dr Venson-Motoi applauded the teachers for voluntarily working on weekends to help learners, something that she said was uncommon given the strained relationship the teachers and her ministry previously had. Rauwe Primary School has been consistently attaining position one in the region.

She encouraged parents in other schools to emulate those at Rauwe. The minister said the call by some PTAs that they should be paid allowances was a difficult one because it was their responsibility to contribute towards the education of their children. “Teachers diaries are not to teach learners manners and ask them to do homework, it is the responsibility of parents,” said the minister.

She also commended the area MP, Mr Pono Moatlhodi for encouraging the school to perform better by donating a floating trophy that was won by schools that got position one, two and three in the constituency. At the same event, the minister donated four laptops as a way of appreciating the school’s impressive performance.

The school head, Ms Catherine Mpatane attributed the school’s good performance to team work, commitment and ensuring that remedial work was done extensively. She said for the past five years, the school had been performing well with 87 per cent, 92 per cent,96 per cent, 96 per cent and 92 per cent in the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and last year respectively. She explained that last year, the school got 35 As, 21 Bs, 22 Cs and eight Ds.

Prior to the victory party, the minister visited Semotswane primary and the school head, Ms Grace Selalame, informed the minister that they were faced with challenges such as shortage of classrooms and teachers houses. Ms Selalame said the school had 20 classes with only 16 classrooms, a situation that she said forced some classes to be conducted outside.

She said the school had 22 teachers but there were only four staff houses and as a result some commuted from as far as Francistown. The school head said their pass rate was 64 per cent and the staff was determined to pick it up to 80 per cent and above. Another problem facing the school, she said, was failure to attend PTA meetings by parents.

Ms Selalame applauded the government for availing equipment such as photocopiers, projectors and microwaves to the school.

Dr Venson-Moitoi said the teachers’ determination in improving the results was a step in the right direction and she informed them that her ministry had provided funds for construction of 15 teachers’ houses in Tonota. The houses, she said, would help alleviate the problem of teachers’ accommodation. ENDS