29 Jul 2020

Matshekge Hill Senior Secondary School in Bobonong, aims to break into the top ten best performing senior secondary schools bracket when Botswana General Certificate in Secondary Education (BGCSE) results are released next year.

Speaking during a ceremony where the school alumni donated sanitisers, decoders and toilet paper to the school on Tuesday, the school head, Mr James conceded that the school had been performing below the Ministry of Basic Education set target of 55 per cent.

Consequently, Mr Butale said that the school would call an ‘alumni indaba’ with a sole intention of turning the school’s fortunes around, a transition that would pump up the school’s performance towards the top ten finish.

In 2017 Matshekge School attained 21 per cent, 24.6 per cent in 2018 and 22.2 per cent last year. It was against this backdrop that the school birthed an indaba of the alumni to guide in the transformation.

In their wide ranging capacities, the alumni would see all players bring their expertise together for an enhanced performance, the school head said.

Mr Butale noted with concern that the school performed well in optional subjects such as Art and Fashion and Fabric while positing lower grades on core subjects like  English .

The core subjects contribute significantly to the school’s rating.

“It is worrisome how our pupils are well behaved and tick every positive box, yet the school fails to make it to top ten,” said Mr Butale.
Commenting on the donations, Mr Butale expressed heartfelt gratitude to the classes of 92 and 97 for their selfless gestures to the school.

Mr Butale revealed that the classes in question had a reputation of supporting the school on various needs.

The alumni have been praised for buying presents for best performers, computers for the library and photocopying machines.

When presenting on behalf of class of ‘97, that also reiterated the need for pumped up results, Ms Neo Phooko challenged Matshekge learners to break her class’ long standing record of 93 per cent.

Ms Phooko urged pupils to take advantage of COVID-19 new normal of spending less time in classes and more to their selves to learn on their own and ‘pester teachers’ with questions meant to better their understanding.

Ms Phooko promised learners a cow for their celebrations if they successfully obliterate the 93 per cent school record.

The class of ‘97 donated four 25 litres of sanitisers, 25 packets of 18 rolls of toilet paper and a sanitiser stand.

At the same event, class of ‘92 handed over six open view high definition decoders to be installed at common rooms at boarding facilities, and 48 packs of 27 rolls of toilet paper.

Speaking on behalf of class of ‘92, Mr Edward Jorowe, a Mathematics teacher at Selolwe Junior Secondary School in Francistown, said that their donation aimed at addressing pupils’ needs during the unprecedented pandemic times.

Also, Mr Jorowe said the donation would help teachers concentrate on their core mandate of facilitating learning as the needs for compliance to COVID-19 protocols would have been addressed.

In so doing, the class of ‘92 challenged the learners, represented by student representative council to, in future, emulate the exploits of the donors when they have grown successful, courtesy of education they received at the school.

“Even in the new normal you still have results to grind…dedicate yourselves to passing so that you attain your desired goals,” said Mr Jorowe. ENDS