30 May 2018

Parents’ collaboration with teachers to improve pupil’s academic performance is crucial.

Nata Primary School head, Mr Innocent Luzile said it was the responsibility of all to ensure that pupils acquired proper education.

He said they have established various study programmes which had brought positive results in improving pupil’s academic performance.

He said between 65 and 68 per cent of parents, according to his parental visit records, had internalised the habit of visiting the school to discuss their children’s performance with teachers.

He explained that they hold PTA meetings and that last year they came up with strategies to implement programmes that could motivate pupils in their education.   

He said each term they have an academic performance competition for pupils residing in the six wards of the village, and that the winning ward gets a trophy. Moaloso ward are current holders of the trophy.

Furthermore, he also said they have best learner award, best clean award, best disciplined award, and a home work policy twice a week that was monitored by parents and teachers.

He said they were forming ward educational meetings to have the support of pupils at homes.

Mr Luzile said the school performance was average as last year they attained 70 per cent AB, 72 per cent ABC results in the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE). He, however, said they managed to exceed the regional target.

He highlighted that they only had two drop-out of pupils last year, a girl and a boy.

He said as truancy is common among boys, parents supported pupils to go to school, but that some decided to leave on their own during the fishing season.

He applauded parents for their efforts and urged them to encourage others to contribute to their pupil’s academic performance.

Mr Luzile noted that pupils had different talents and that they balanced academics with extra curriculum activities so that pupils could identify and persue their  strengths.

He added that having computers had made them manage to compete with schools in urban areas. He said although computers were available at the library, pupils competed for them with junior school students and the community.

He pleaded with donors not to focus on schools that excel academically only, but to help those that do not do well. ENDS