16 May 2018

Minister of Basic Education, Mr Bagalatia Arone visited Matsha College Friday to get first-hand information on the alleged deteriorating state of the school.

Over the previous years, Kang-based senior secondary school was engulfed with misfortunes, in the likes of seven students perishing in a truck accident.

The college kitchen, dining hall and the science laboratory were also reduced to ashes.

Following the unfolding dreadful events at the school, Mr Arone encouraged the students to safeguard the school property as it would be used by the next generations.

He informed students that government had made education one of its top priorities, hoping to increase educational opportunities for generations to come, therefore they must forever remain grateful and ensure that they do not let the opportunity slip through their fingers.

He said in many countries some families can seldom afford to send children to school, thus depriving some children of education.

He condemned sexual relationships, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as teenage pregnancy among students as he termed them as, ‘enemies of success’.

Despite the challenges that their school encountered, he encouraged them to be on the lookout for traits that could disrupt their focus on the studies to ensure that they thrive in their educational opportunities and become an advanced and innovative generation.

The school head girl, Ms Masego Sethatho pleaded with the minister not to judge them basing on the past experiences as they were determined to bring winds of change to the school.

She noted that they did not have security at hostels as well as no boilers, as such they were forced to wake up early and make fire to warm water, and that their hostels and classrroms were not conducive for learning.

On other issues, the students pleaded for the reinstatement of educational tours, as they exposed them to other areas in the country.

Meanwhile, on behalf of the teachers, Mr Brics Monikaso noted that the school was faced with shortage of teachers, as currently they had nine vacant posts.

He also said they were faced with lack of accommodation as the school had 150 teachers and accommodation capacity of 63 houses, forcing teachers to share.

Furthermore, he said they needed a private security that would  provide full security services as they had registered two cases of rape in the past four years.

Moreover, he said they experienced delays in subsistence allowances since the 2017 second term.

He also highlighted other issues such as overstaying of teachers, shortage of computers, unavailability of staff room, lack of promotions, poor drainage system, and shortage of water and lack of enrichment programmes for students.

Mr Monakiso also pleaded with the minister to revise the Rural Area Subsistence Allowance policy to include public officers working in the Kgalagadi area.

He added that the ministry could tap on other incentives that could attract officers to come and offer their services in the Kgalagadi areas.

On behalf of primary schools, Inalegolo school head, Ms Boitshoko Mokgethi decried overstaying of teachers, delays in payment of acting allowances, lack of payment for mileages, shortage of textbooks, and lack of transport.

She also mentioned lack of provision of special diet recommended for reception classes, lack of grading of school playing grounds, lack of accommodation for temporary teachers and delays in payments of temporary teachers.

In his response, deputy permanent secretary in the ministry of education, Mr Coles Simon acknowledged the teachers complaints and encouraged them to focus on performing their duties to improve the school’s academic performances.

He lauded them for their commitment in pursuing their duties despite working under undesirable conditions.

He pleaded with them to be patient as the ministry was doing everything in its power to improve its operation efficiency.

To curb shortage of accommodation, Mr Coles encouraged teachers to invest in property to help close the existing gaps as in return they would be investing in their future.

In her response, the assistant director for Kgaladagi region, Ms Tumelo Modumo said the department of education had been given the waiver to address overstay of teachers, as she said currently they had about 193 teachers with eight to 24 years of stay in the same area.

In terms of over time allowances, she said so far, over time allowances amounting to P33 000 had been paid and P44 000 was still to be disbursed while the sum of P140 000 for over time  allowance was still pending.

In his closing remarks, Matsha College school head, Mr Tshokologo Dineo drew the minister’s attention to the positive changes in the school.

He said they had joined hands with the village elders to take the school to greater heights in terms of academics and instill discipline.

He said the school used to be faced with challenges such as escalating numbers of mischievous students who used drug and alcohol, vandalised school property while others practiced Satanism.

He explained that the school’s bad reputation had led to some parents transferring their children to other schools because they feared for their future.

Mr Dineo however, assured the minister that the bad reputation was a thing of past, since the new school management was striving to change the school into a better one, which would be envied by many.

He highlighted that the management of Matsha College had come up with initiatives that he believed would mould students into responsible and result-orientated students.

These initiatives includes boot camp, prize giving with the support from Matsha alumni, which he said would encourage students to work hard.

Further, he said for academic results to improve, school heads should be held accountable to their school performances to encourage them to work hard as well as the reinstatement of in-service training to empower teachers.

Moreover, he called upon the minister to liaise directly with school heads to get firsthand information from their respective schools rather than relying on reports with unfounded truths by some education officers. Ends