03 Apr 2019

Ministry of Basic Education, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Netherlands, are working together to ensure pupils countrywide are screened and those found with visual impairment are assisted with spectacles and other specialist assistance.

Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Mr Thato Kwerepe clarified that Motsumi Junior Secondary School (JSS) did not have a special education unit, but that the school had 18 pupils with visual impairment, one with hearing impairment, three with physical disabilities and 14 with learning difficulties.

He said Kgale Hill Junior Secondary School (JSS) has a donated purpose built special unit and currently assisted 64 pupils with hearing impairment along with a few suffering from learning difficulties.

Mr Kwerepe stated that Motsumi JSS has two teachers with B.Ed special education and that Kgale Hill currently has one teacher with B.Ed Special Education.

Furthermore, he said teachers with special education qualifications at Motsumi JSS were not paid scarce skills allowance as they did not perform special education duties.

He added that they offered their main teaching subjects which did not attract scarce skills allowance.

Mr Kwerepe, however, said the teacher at Kgale Hill JS was paid a scarce skill allowance and coordinated the operation of the special unit.

He further clarified that the two schools were not classified in the same region, saying Motsumi JSS was in the central region while Kgale Hill was in the south east region.

He informed Parliament that based on junior certificate results; “Kgale Hill generally performs better that Motsumi JSS.”

Mr Kwerepe refuted allegations that the “Thuto le Pono Boswa” project was coordinated at Motsumi JSS, saying it happened that one trained ophthalmic nurse at Sekgoma Hospital had seen it fit to visit and assist learners in Motsumi.

He further elaborated that the project was a three year project, adding that the first phase of the project started in 2016 and was completed in December 2018.

The assistant minister highlighted that phase one targeted primary school children whereas phase two was due to start this financial year for all schools.

Member of Parliament for Boteti East, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe had asked the assistant minister to appraise Parliament on the status of the special education unit at Motsumi JSS and Kgale Hill JSS.

Mr Lelatisitswe wanted to know the resources and number of children per school, the qualification of teachers and whether they were paid scarce skills allowance.

He further wanted to know if the schools were classified in the same region, and which one performed better.

Mr Lelatisitswe further questioned how Motsumi JSS was chosen to run the “Thuto le Pono Boswa” project and timeliness to that effect. Ends