14 Jun 2018

Minister of Basic Education says the number of students’ enrollment at Ditsweletse Junior Secondary School is 946 with an average class size of 45 learners per class.

Mr Bagalatia Arone said the school has 21 classes with nine classes of Form 1, six Form 2 and six Form 3.

At Motsumi Junior Secondary School, Mr Arone said enrollment was 751 with 18 classes and an average class size of 42 learners.

“At Motsumi Junior Secondary School each stream has six classes,” said Mr Arone, adding that both schools had their full complement of staff.

Mr Arone further noted that the Revised National Policy on Education (1994) recommended a teacher-student ratio of 1:40.

“The students’ ratio for Ditsweletse JSS are Form 1 (1:43), Form 2 (1:49) and Form 3 (1:46) and Motsumi JSS are Form 1 (1:45), Form 2 (1:41) and Form 3 (1:41),” he said.

The minister said the student-teacher ration was a concern and stated that his ministry continued to prioritise provision of additional classroom space across the country in an endeavour to reduce class sizes.

Mr Arone said at Ditsweletse JSS there was shortage of 158 tables, 116 chairs, three classrooms and four specialist rooms while at Motsumi JSS there was also a shortage of 144 tables, 263 chairs, six classrooms and one specialist room, said the Minister of Basic Education.

In addition, Mr Arone said  Ditsweletse JSS had 70 teachers against 35 houses whilst Motsumi JSS had 58 teachers and 37 houses, thus making both schools in need of additional staff accommodation.

“Both schools also have a shortage of teaching and learning materials in the form of stationery and text books. My ministry is currently procuring these resources and will assist the school by the end of June with additional stationery.”

 He said his ministry did not have any plans under NDP 11 to build a new school in Letlhakane Sub-district, but that rather they would  continue to expand the schools basing on the arising needs and availability of funds.

The Member of Parliament for Boteti East, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe had asked the minister to update Parliament on the status of Motsumi and Ditsweletse JSS regarding the total student enrollment per class and number of classes per stream, teachers’ situation per class, and when ratios would be within prescribed education policy.

He further wanted to know, among others, furniture and classroom availability and quantify shortage if any, teachers’ accommodation and quantify shortages, availability of books/stationery and whether there were any considerations of building another junior secondary school in Letlhakane.  ENDS