09 Feb 2021

Selibe Phikwe primary schools have been hailed as some of the highest performing in the country with a score between 80-100 per cent credit pass rate.

Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Ms Nnaniki Makwinja said Selibe Phikwe primary schools’ good performance had been consistent in the last five to 10 years. 

However, Ms Makwinja noted that although Selibe Phikwe schools were performing well, promotion of teachers was not only focused on the general performance of the school, but on individual teacher performance per subject. 

She noted that teachers had to compete nationally for promotional posts, saying if they faced competition from other teachers with better performance in other schools, it became hard for them to be promoted. 

Ms Makwinja noted that in the same period 32 teachers from various primary schools in Selibe Phikwe had been promoted.

She said whilst promotions were linked to performance, there were a number of factors that were considered when promoting staff  which included availability of positions, academic performance of individuals, competition from other teachers and recommendations of school leadership and regions.

She, however, acknowledged that lack of promotion was undesirable and could demoralise teachers, but noted that all teachers got a fair chance for consideration and competed with each other to fill the limited positions as and when they became available.

Selibe-Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had asked the minister if she was aware of the performance of primary schools in Selibe Phikwe in the last five to 10 years as well as to state the number of teachers promoted per school in the same period. 

He also asked if the promotions policy was linked to results and if promotions of Selibe Phikwe teachers was commensurate with their performance in terms of examination results. ends