08 Mar 2020

Meepong Junior Secondary School in Selebi Phikwe celebrated outstanding 2019 Junior Certificate results.

The school attained position three nationally with a 73.6 per cent ABC pass rate.

The school head, Ms Dorcus Olebile informed Meepong JSS community during the victory celebration held at the school on Friday that since its inception, Meepong JSS had been a highly performing school.

She said the school had been able to beat the 65 per cent national target for the past five years except in 2016 when the school dropped to 55.8 per cent, attributing that decline to the closure of the BCL mine.She said most pupils were psychologically affected by the closure of the mine which in turn affected their academic work.

She, however, highlighted that the school shot to 75.8 per cent in 2017.

Ms Olebile also noted that a lot needed to be done for the school to meet the 80 per cent regional target, adding that the school had been striving to meet the target.

In the past two examinations, she said Meepong JSS maintained its second position but its performance continued to drop, calling for the support of all stakeholders to help the school reach the target.

She thanked the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) for their support, urging them to continue working as a team.For his part, the PTA chairperson, Mr Shirley Kgosietsile added that his committee was doing the best to support the school and help government provide education to the children.

He said his committee managed to buy three computers and printers for the school, adding that Information and Communication Technology was important to the 21st century learner hence the need to equip the school with computers.

In addition, he said the school managed to buy new tables for pupils to address shortage of furniture in the school.

He, however, said the problem had not been addressed fully as there was still shortage of chairs and tables.Mr Kgosietsile also raised concern over vandalism of school equipment by pupils, saying it exacerbated the problem of shortage of furniture in the school.

He also asked parents to help reprimand children and instill discipline.

For his part, Bulb World chief executive officer, Mr Ketshephaone Jacob encouraged pupils to work hard to realise their dreams.

He encouraged them to believe in themselves for them to achieve anything they desire.

“If I could do it, you can also do it,” he said.ENDS