02 Oct 2013

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Peter Siele has encouraged parents and teachers in Lorolwana to work together to improve the ever declining school results.

Minister Siele who is also Member of Parliament for Ngwaketse South was concerned about poor results at Lorolwana primary school which are declining yearly, citing among others poor parenting as the main problem that leads to poor standard seven results.

Addressing parents and teachers in Lorolwana, he criticized parents for not participating in their children’s education, adding that teachers alone will not be successful in the moulding of a child. Mr Siele appealed to parents to attend PTA meetings when they are called and further called upon them to collect end of the term reports in which they will discuss student performance.

He indicated that it will be painful and shameful if their children will at one stage later also enrol in the destitute programmes despite having been to school.

However, head teacher of the school Mrs Keatlaretse Sewagodimo told the minister that the school has been experiencing poor school results four years ago due to shortage of teachers. She said teachers refused to be posted to Lorolwana because of poor amenities.

Mrs Sewagodimo said most teachers resigned if posted to the area while others gave various reasons. She stated that the other problem is poor parenting which resulted in poor results, saying parents took their children from school to work in ranches.

The head also was concerned about water shortage in village which leads to students to abscond from the school, plus lack of education materials. Parents Teachers Association (PTA) chairperson Ms Gabaratanelwe Tlounyane requested that the school be electrified while the perimeter fence should be maintained. Parents said that the last national strike contributed a lot towards the performance of students in the country.

They appealed for better buildings with enough classrooms and text books. ENDS