23 Apr 2018

Taung Junior Secondary School has resorted to boot camp to improve student’s academic performance.

The school head, Ms Faith Tshiamo said in an interview that the school management, including parents, found it important to organise a boot camp even though the programme was usually found at senior school level.

She said the decision came about because the school community was worried about the student’s performance.

She noted that the boot camp concept started last year when the school performance was unsatisfactory, adding that this year it would be held under the theme: Gear Up Academic Excellence.

 “The mandate of the boot camp is to instill high academic discipline and motivate students at different levels,” she said.

 She said despite the little improvement from 42.18 per cent in 2016 to 46.28 per cent in 2017, they are hoping of better things to come.

 She said prior to commencement of the boot camp, research was done to see what could be contributing to poor results, which Ms Tshiamo blamed on substance abuse by students during school hours.

She highlighted that this year 140 students were part of the boot camp, which lasted for 13 days.

Ms Tshiamo gave credit to stakeholders such as Botswana Defence Force (BDF), pastors, school alumni, parents and the local authority for having shown commitment in ensuring that the boot camp became a success.

 She said every stakeholder played their unique role in the camp.

She pointing out that the BDF role was to sharpen survival skills, pastors enhanced the spiritual phase, and alumni gave motivational talks while parents and local authority offered counselling.

Ms Tshiamo said despite the boot camp bearing fruit, such an achievement was frustrated by parents who barred students from participating in the weekend study or extra lessons offered.

 She said if the school had internet connection, this would also help students to do research on subjects they were struggling with.

 Boot camp coordinator, Ms Veronicah Nkutlwang said this year focus would be on four subjects; Setswana, English, Mathematics and Integrated Science. ENDS