07 Nov 2017

Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Mr Moiseraele Goya has challenged teachers to introspect as the current academic results were not impressive despite government efforts in improving the academic environment.

Mr Goya said this when giving a keynote address at Moiyabana Primary School 50th anniversary and prize giving and reception class graduation celebrations recently.

“It is a fact that good results are elusive in many of our schools. There is need to restore a culture of effective teaching as a matter of urgency,” he said.

Mr Goya said government was working round the clock to address issues of staff housing, teaching and learning materials, school governance and accountability,” he said.

Minister Goya however noted that while he appreciated the work that the current crop of teachers were doing in schools, there was still room for improvement.

Mr Goya also gave a word of appreciation for the past and present generation of teachers who had made Moiyabana Primary School the big brand it is today.

“Credit goes to the founding principal and the first cohort of teachers for the foundation so well laid,” he said.

He noted that the past generation of teachers, toiled under trying conditions, without the benefit of modern conveniences such as automobiles, electricity, internet and cellphones.

“These were a rare breed of teachers who did not allow poverty and shortage of teaching and learning materials to impact negatively on the quality education of classroom instruction.

They rose to challenges, turned themselves into sacrificial lambs to safe guard the future of the motherland. They were guided by strong patriotic feeling, love and a desire to make a difference,” he said.

Of particular interest, Mr Goya said government was investing in the expansion of pre-primary school opportunities to provide a service to the previously disadvantaged.

He noted that, so far a total of 471 public schools were running reception classes, adding that, he was pleased that Moiyabana Primary School was one of the schools.

“The introduction of reception classes represents a strong political will on the part of government to improve the overall quality of education starting with the development of a strong foundation,” he said.

Mr Goya said government had developed a policy that would specifically deal with the accreditation of qualified teachers.

He said this was an effort to improve the reputation of the teaching profession, adding that, soon not everyone would be allowed to teach without relevant qualification as it is presently the case.

For his part, presenting on the history of the school, Mr Serame Gaerobale, said that although the school was officially registered in 1967, it originated in 1921 at Lesedi ward.

He said by then the classrooms were made of mud and thatched grass, adding that it only had classes up to standard four, upon which after completion those who had passed would then attend further studies at Khama Memorial School in Serowe. ENDS