25 Oct 2016

Lack of funds and water shortage is said to be affecting the performance rate of Neale Primary School in Molepolole.

This came out during a prize giving ceremony on Thursday that the situation has led to the school performance dropping from 73 per cent to 49 per cent in the past two years.

“Since 2011 we do not have water and wood to cook for students. Even during the just ended standard seven exams it was difficult because we could not cook for our students.

We are struggling with stationary like manila, felt  tip pens, books, pens and pencils. These challenges have affected the performance of our children,” she said.

She however, commended parents for supporting the school and their children by buying materials whenever they were asked to. “I can say that 85 per cent of our parents are very cooperative. In some cases some students bring even red pens for their teachers,” she said.

Ms Sedimo further said that even photocopying machines and printers that they received from the government are iddling as they are not able to service them.

“In the past we used PTA funds to service the machines but we cannot cope anymore. Even government officers who should be servicing the machines are not forthcoming,” she said

However a businessman and resident of Molepolole, also founder and chairperson of The Good Samaritan Foundation Mr Kabo Morwaeng, applauded the school and parents for perseverance in difficult times. He gave the school donations amounting to P20 000 for use by pre-school children.

The donation included wooden and funky kitchen items like a fridge, stove, washing machine, cabinet, sink for demonstration, and toys to play with.

The same package was given to Lekgwapheng Primary school while Luis and Bonewamang primary schools will also receive their own packages at a later date.

Mr Morwaeng believed that one could not talk about improving primary school results without improving the foundation, hence his investment in pre school children.

Councillor for Loologa Ward in Molepolole Mr Mookami Mantimane reiterated the struggles that the school was facing further pointing out that teachers did not even have accommodation and resources to use in class. He said council was failing to assist due to lack of funds.

He therefore commended the school and parents for perseverance and encouraged parents to keep going on and pray that help may come.

Meanwhile, the school head, Mr Tshwanelo Kaupa said that prize giving ceremony were not meant to point out who was better than the other, but to encourage all students to work harder.

He said even those who won prices should not relax, but work even harder and keep the discipline.

A representative from Molepolole Police Station, Special Constable Ms Tshegofatso Tutumpane advised standard seven leavers to stay home and avoid strolling on malls and sitting on culverts as that is usually where children learn wayward behavior.

She pointed out that they have received many cases where students have stabbed, harmed and in some cases killed one  another in secondary schools. She advised primary school leavers not to copy such behavior, but to pray and put God before all things. ENDS