27 Jun 2016

The Minister of Infrastructure Science and Technology Mr Nonofo Molefhi  has commended Selebi Phikwe Primary School for obtaining a 95.7 pass rate in the 2015 Primary School leaving Examinations (PSLE),  beating other schools in the SELEBO Region. SELEBO region comprises of schools in the Bobirwa Sub -district and Selebi Phikwe.

Speaking during the victory celebration at the school on June 24, Minister Molefhi who is also Selebi Phikwe East Member of Parliament said he was pleased with the performance of the school and the region as a whole.

He said cooperation between teachers and parents in children’s education impacted positively in the children’s academic performance in the 2015 PSLE.  He said the children were moulded by both parties to work hard and produce good results despite challenges they encountered in society such as alcohol, drug abuse and teenage pregnancy.

He said reports had been made of elders who sold drugs or use their children to sell drugs to other children and such issues should be reported with immediate effect to avoid the consequences brought about by use of drugs. 

Also, he said elders who molest children must be reported to law enforcement agencies.

He urged students in the mining town to refrain from getting involved in early relationships and focus on their school work.

The region’s chief education officer Ms Lillian Matshameko commended Selebi Phikwe rimary for the good performance noting that they achieved one of the ministry’s objectives by going beyond the national pass rate target of 76 per cent. 

However she expressed concern that though children did well in primary schools, their performance tended to drop at secondary school level.

She urged students to focus on their education adding that parents also should play a role by giving support to their children which will in turn also boost their morale to take education seriously.

Ms Metshameko also encouraged teachers to give out their best in their teaching despite the challenges they faced. 

She said teachers were the pillar of the nation and the future of the country depended on them.

For his part, Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keoprapetse called for harsh measures to be taken against parents or elders who sold drugs to children. 

He also requested Minister Molefhi to engage the Ministry of Education and Skills Development to refurbish infrastructure in primary schools in Selebi Phikwe because they were not in a pleasing state despite producing good results.

Mr Keorapetse presented a floating trophy to the school, while students who did well were awarded certificates, tablets, BOT 50 blazers and a token of P500 cash each to motivate them to continue doing well in their studies and to appreciate the good results they produced. Ends