04 Jul 2016

Assistant Minister of Education Skills and Development, Mr Moiseraele Goya says the poor academic performance of students in public schools is a cause for concern.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Lecheng on Wednesday, Mr Goya said his ministry is going around the country with the aim to engage parents, teachers and students to address the rising issue of poor academic performance in government schools.  

He said Batswana are concerned by the sharp decline of students’ performance, and the ministry of education is also concerned thus found it improtant to involve all stakeholders to discuss and come up with ideas on how to promote good academic performance in schools.

When relating those academic performances to Lecheng schools, Mr Goya said Mokgalo CJSS performance has declined immensely over three years scoring 29 per cent, 24 per cent and 20 per cent in 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively.

For Lecheng primary school, he said in 2013, 61 students out of 100 passed, in 2014, 72 students passed and in 2015 only 29 students out of 100 passed.

He said it is necessary for parents and teachers to work together and work with students to ensure that they attain good academic results.

He said it is important for both parties to work together to seek the most effective methods to use to engage students in good manners which will improve their academic performance and general behaviour.

Mr Goya also Member of Parliament for Parliament said special attention should be paid to shaping good respect for humanity and morality in children.

He rebuked some parents for neglecting their children’s education and abandoning the responsibility on teachers, adding that it impacts negatively on students performances.

He said students take their education for granted as some are involved in alcohol, drugs and substances abuse, while some fall pregnant at a tender age, and some are involved in fights and disrespect teachers.

He said if this kind of behaviour consistently grows, Botswana’s future will be dominantly shrouded by a dark, gloomy cloud of hopelessness.

Mr Goya informed parents that livestock is no longer viable to be considered inheritance for children because livestock is subject to various factors such as diseases, saying education is something a child can depend upon.

He encouraged parents to be directly involved in their children’s learning process by always asking them how the school was, how the teacher was teaching them and to visit them at schools during lessons.

Mr Goya rebuked some parents for selling alcohol and drugs to students and encouraged parents of boarding students to help them with toiletry.

The minister said some teachers are worried that students proceed from primary schools to secondary level with poor academic results, thus contributing to the low performance of students at secondary schools.

He requested parents to cooperate with teachers and allow their children to repeat at school if teachers recommend so.

Kgosi Prince Obuseng of Lecheng said he is equally concerned about poor performance as well as pregnancy cases. He said so far three cases of pregnant students at Mokgalo secondary school have been recorded.

He said it is worrying that students are sleeping with elderly people of the village, appealing to parents to help in directing students into good path.

Ms Kedidimetse Kelathegile of Lecheng village development committee (VDC) informed Mr Goya that Lecheng primary school and Mokgalo secondary school buildings are not in good conditions and hence need maintenance.  

She informed Goya that the two schools have insufficient staff houses, and said toilets water systems are not functional at primary school, while standard five and six pupils are overcrowded in classes.

She said water pipes leak at Mokgalo, and students’ hostels need renovation.

Some parents informed Mr Goya that they are not pleased with some church pastors who exploit children to cook or clean for them. They said some churches take place at night, at a time when students should be home studying.

Parents accepted that they are pertly to blame for poor academic performance of students by not being involved to ensure that students are doing school work and are taught well at classes. ENDS