01 Mar 2021

Letlhakane Senior Secondary School management and the District Health Management Team (DHMT) have resolved to set up a clinic in the school premises to control the spread of COVID-19 which the school is struggling with.

Briefing the DHMT, the school head Mr Pius Molapisi said the decision came after the school management realised that most boarding pupils especially girls had developed a habit of requesting permits to leave the school compound on the pretext that they were going to the clinic. 

In some instances, he said boarding pupils sneaked out through the school fence thereby increasing movement in and out of the schools’ premises.

This, he said had resulted in the school struggling with COVID-19 cases, with 33 female pupils reported to have tested positive for coronavirus while 26 were on quarantine.  

The number of COVID-19 positive male pupils stood at 24 with 10 on quarantine. Suggestions were also made that security be tightened by patrolling along the school fence to guard against the movement of boarding learners, which seems to be frustrating efforts by the school management to contain the spread of the virus.

Mr Molapisi also indicated that frequent power interruptions, lack of transport and shortage of water in Letlhakane were a challenge.

He, however, noted the school performance had improved as the school was on the top 10 in the country at a 30.8 per cent pass rate and number two in the Central District.

For his part, the Deputy District Commissioner Mr Ewetse Selelo proposed that stringent measures  be put in place to curb the pupils’ ill behaviour.

He implored the school management to engage the Parents Teacher Association and caution them that any pupil found sneaking through the school fence would be expelled from boarding.

Mr Selelo acknowledged that the situation was challenging but he encouraged them to stay put, and not allow themselves to be overwhelmed. 

He promised to send the Department of Buildings Electrical and Engineering Services as well as Water Utilities Corporation to assess the situation at the school. Ends