30 May 2016

The Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Moiseraela Goya has emphasised government’s commitment in education noting that the country’s destiny relied on the quality of educational institutions.

Speaking at Letlhakane Primary School victory party on May 27, Mr Goya explained that national development agenda, encompassing among other things, poverty eradication, job creation, economic diversification and restoration of human dignity was anchored on the strength and quality of human resource.

“It is in this light that raising the quality of academic achievement especially in our public schools remains a priority for government,” he said.

He further noted that through the production and final publication of Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan (ETSSP), the intention is to strengthen the quality of education by addressing and closing all identified gaps in the entire education sector from pre-primary school to the university.

This he said included addressing shortage of teaching and learning materials through the Economic Stimulus programme.

He challenged all education institutions to up their game, citing Letlhakane primary as one of the schools that were doing their best to achieve good performance.

“It feels good to come all the way from Gaborone to mingle and rub shoulders with a winning tea. Almost half of the cohort, 49 per cent to be precise achieved grades A and B,” Mr Goya stated.

He explained that Letlhakane Primary School’s exceptional performance does not in any way suggest that the school in more affluent and resources that its peers.

The school has done well because it has mastered the art and principle of doing more with less as he further explained that the success of any school lied in its ability to manage well the resources at its disposal.

These resources, he said include finances, students, teaching and non-teaching staff, parents and community at large.

“Achievements of Letlhakane Primary School did not come by chance; it is a culmination of a deliberate plan which was executed with military precision. Without a strong leadership the plan would have remained a pipedream,” he said.

He noted that the school was sitting on a pedestal because its teachers saw teaching as a special and unique profession demanding personal sacrifices.

“These teachers are a rare breed always prepared to go beyond normal working hours, if duty demands and doing so without expecting extra remuneration”

Mr Goya said desirable results could only come if teachers applied themselves fully and demonstrated a high degree of professionalism.

However, he cautioned the school against complacency saying that they can only stay on top if they sustain the discipline and hard work. Ends