08 Nov 2016

Students in Chobe district have challenged the Ministry of Basic Education to provide basic essentials to ensure that the school environment is conducive for learning.

Representing the student community at a panel discussion aimed at tackling poor academic performance, Palesa Morebodi from Chobe junior school noted that science labs and outdoor areas were being used as base classrooms and that students were also faced with shortage of meals.

“How then can we be expected to excel when we are hungry in class and being taught outside in harsh weather conditions?” she argued. She said having to walk long distances to access medical help also jeopardised their education.

Morebodi admitted however that students were also to blame for vandalism of school furniture and loss of books.

Representing the teaching cadre, Mr Bernie Phiri from Chobe junior school also argued that a lot needed to change in improving performance by both students and teachers. He argued that mixed ability teaching was leaving students with learning difficulties behind.

“How can we also be expected to deliver if our student ratios in class are as high as 45 and 50 compared to 30 in other schools?” he asked.

Mr Phiri also criticised the ministry for delaying to replace transferred staff and failing to standardise developments equally across all schools in the country. 

“Learning conditions in Chobe are way different from conditions in Gaborone in terms of resources allocated to schools and the attention given to these by the ministry,” he said adding that Chobe was getting a shorter end of the stick.

Deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Basic Education Mr Simon Coles noted that instead of buying new furniture schools can revive and fix their old furniture. 

He acknowledged that there was need to provide medical personnel to schools and that class sizes and lack of basic amenities remained a challenge.

“Regarding mixed ability learning, we are doing this to be more inclusive in our education system,” he said. He added that little money had been allocated basic education throughout the years and that now with the ministry split, that was expected to improve. Coles added that they would focus more on capcitating teachers with a view of improving performance.

He also encouraged teachers to be inventive and creative in their approach to teaching to stay relevant. “If you are a teacher and all you do is bring a notebook to classroom and go through your notes religiously day after day, do not be surprised if your students stop listening and lose interest,” he said. Additionally he added that there is need for less testing and more skills delivery. ENDS