15 Feb 2017

The Assistant Minister of Basic Education and Skills Development Mr Mosiseraele Goya says government is concerned about the declining academic performance in public schools.
He said during a brief visit to Mogoditshane Junior Secondary School to interact with students and teachers on Monday that more often than not, the declining academic performance was fueled by lack of commitment from individuals in the learning environment be it students or teachers.
Mr Goya said government was disturbed by the appalling state of affair despite availability of resources aimed at facilitating the learning processes.
Results released for the 2016 academic year stood at 33. 60 per cent as opposed 45 per cent attained in 2015, a decline he said was attributed to lack of commitment towards production of excellent results far much below the 65 per cent minimum national requirement.
He said it was upon individuals to ensure change adding that government could not leave such situation to prevail in schools.
The minister however challenged teachers to communicate problems impacting on their operations and how best such challenges could be addressed.
Mr Goya also the Member of Parliament for Palapye dismissed excuses advanced to the effect that some students failed to perform according to expectations due to their social background.
He argued that the situation was not in any way new to the current students stating that there were individuals currently holding positions of responsibilities despite the fact that they were raised from humble beginnings.
The school head, Mr Godiraone Gothusang attributed poor academic performance to issues of unconducive environment that included among others high intake of students since 2011 .
 The situation he said made teaching very difficult as it pitted one teacher against 60 students contrary to the Revised National Policy on Education (RNPE)’s requirements of 45 students per class.
He said although the issue could not be used as a scapegoat, the  environment had the potential to ruin production of good work adding that the recurring environment may lead to a decline due to low morale.
The school head also raised concern over dilapidating structures which have gone without renovations since 1989.
He said Mogoditshane Junior with the enrolment of over 900 students had 18 streams with some classes sharing school hall for teaching while others operated outdoors full time even in bad weather. ends