18 Sep 2019

The supply of breakfast in all primary schools in the Southern District Council (SDC) is said to have led to improved attendance by learners.

This was shared by the SDC chairperson, Mr Alec Seametso in his address during the council session on Tuesday. He explained that the district was one of the first to implement breakfast feeding in primary schools which was initiated by the government in April 2019.

Mr Seametso said the implementation of such initiative had improved the academic results in schools.

He, however, noted that, Food Relief Services (FRS) had challenges supplying milk to schools ,but pointed out that they were working on the challenges.

“For the past five years of our term, we have experienced a steady increase in primary education results, though there has been a slight decline in the quality pass by 0.17  per cent in 2018 as compared to 2017.

He said the regional Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results trend from 2014 to 2018 had been 63.85, 64.11, 67.65, 68.27 and 68.01 percent respectfully.

Mr Seametso further noted that despite the significant improvement, the regional performance target of 80 per cent ABC had not been achieved.

“As for Junior Secondary Schools from 2014 to 2018 the academic results are 31.06, 39.08, 31, 32.01 and 34.09 respectively, which shows a steady increase even though we are still behind in reaching the national target of 50 per cent,” he said.

He further shared that a comparison of 2017 and 2018 overall pass rate reflected a 2.08 per cent improvement.

“Though a slight improvement has been shown, the overall academic performance results for Junior Secondary School for term 1, 2019 is at 21 per cent as compared to 26.01 of 2017 indicating a decline,” he said.

He shared that for the senior secondary schools, the region attained an overall performance of 19.06, 21.78, 21.59, 19.98 and 19.42 per cent respectively from 2014 to 2018 academic years,

He added that the regional results had declined by 0.56 per cent though Seepapitso Senior Secondary School recorded an improvement of 3.1 per cent in 2018.

Further, Mr Seametso said the district continued to provide consistent social services coupled with empowerment programmes to the vulnerable members of the community.

He also shared since inception of  the poverty eradication programme, 15 133 persons were mobilised in the district and 7 933 persons qualified for assistance, with 4300 beneficiaries receiving funding. ENDS