01 Dec 2020

 An official from Ministry of Basic Education, Mr Labane Mokgosi has praised teachers for their sterling work of preparing leaners for the future. 

Speaking during the 2020 excellence awards in Francistown on November 30, Mr Mokgosi who is a regional director of operation in the North East Region, said teachers needed to be recognised for their good work of ensuring that both the pupils and school excelled.

Since teachers were the frontline workers in school, he said their hard work and perseverance should not go unrecognised as they were always working hard to ensure good marks for their pupils.

Mr Mokgosi observed that a complete teachers was someone who understood their learners fully, their strengths and weakness and even how to approach them whenever there was an issue pertaining to both school work and non-school work.

The awards which were held under the theme: Turning Challenges into Opportunities in the 21^st Century; a gateway to academic excellence, were in two categories being those for pupils and teachers and non-teaching staff.

To the pupils, Mr Mokgosi emphasised the right attitude towards education, good listening skill and respect, saying such attributes could mould them into responsible individuals.

For his part, Montsamaisa Junior Secondary School school head , Mr Fanyana Ntaise said the school believed that good education played a crucial role in building brighter future for the children.

In that way, he said the staff was committed to providing a conducive atmosphere for the learners.  

He said that in the past years the school had been doing exceptionally well both in academics and extra-curricular activities.

Mr Ntaise said that in 2016 the school achieved 50.6 per cent pass rate, 2017 they were at 56.6 per cent, 2018 they scored 63.3 per cent while in 2019 they achieved overall performance of 67.8 per cent.

Montsamaisa JSS was awarded the best secondary school award and scooped 23 certificates for both the learners and teaching staff while Phatsimo primary school scooped the best primary school award.

The most improved junior secondary school award went to May Junior School and Pelotshwaane Primary School got the most improved primary school award.

For senior schools, Mater-Spei College scooped 19 certificates whereas Francistown Senior Secondary School got 11 certificates.

Giving the vote of thanks, Parents and Teachers Association chairperson, Mr Herbalist Amos expressed concern that some parents failed to establish a good relationship with school management and were not giving their children motivation to do well at school. ends