19 Jan 2022

 Selebi Phikwe schools’ outstanding performance in the 2021 Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) augers well for the country’s participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

“You give us confidence that this country is on track in preparing participants of the fourth industrial revolution,”  Selebi Phikwe Mayor Lucas Modimana said Tuesday.

Mr Modimana, who was addressing school heads for the town’s 11 public primary schools, said execution of the National Economic Revitalisation and Transformation Plan required a strong education foundation because it called for participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The country, he said, was therefore preparing the next generation to be participants in the fourth industrial revolution.

Mr Modimana said the Selebi Phikwe cluster was working towards having a strong education system which was the most important aspect in economic development.

He said the dream was achievable because Selebi Phikwe was a stable community with a good quality of life with the ability to produce focused learners.

Praising the town’s schools for always making Selebi Phikwe proud with their PSLE performance, he pointed out that all managed to beat the national target of 76 per cent ABC pass rate.

Mr Modimana said one government primary school, Joseph Anderson and three private primary schools namely Kopano, Mount Pleasant and Morula attained 100 per cent ABC pass rate in the 2021 examinations.

“We are proud of you and keep aiming higher,” he said.

He commended school heads for closely monitoring their respective schools and ensuring that teaching and learning were not disrupted.

Mayor Modimana also thanked teachers, parents, pupils and other stakeholders for their strong commitment and collaborative effort.

He said as a stakeholder, the council also played a part by availing all the necessary resources and infrastructure to make schools conducive for teaching and learning.

For his part, school heads regional chairperson Mr Madome Madome said the Selebi Phikwe cluster’s aim was to attain 100 per cent ABC across all primary schools in PSLE.

He said even though the 2021 performance was impressive, Phikwe schools ought to put more effort to achieve the goal.

Mr Madome complained about the state of school photocopying machines saying they needed to be repaired to enable smooth  running of examinations.

According to Mr Madome, schools were also grappling with high water bills resulting from leakages due to old pipes.

He therefore  called for refurbishment of water infrastructure in schools.

Another speaker, Selebi Phikwe cluster school heads forum chairperson, Ms Malebogo Marumo raised concern over shortage of classrooms and teachers accommodation.

She said the teacher/pupil ratio had gone slightly up due to high enrolment this year.

Ms Marumo pointed out that the recommended number of classes per school was 22, but due to high enrolment the number of classes had increased resulting in shortage of classrooms. ENDS