23 Jan 2022

There is urgent need to address gross misconduct among learners because it contributes to sloppy academic performance. Member of parliament for Ramotswa Mr Lefoko Moagi said this during a consultative meeting with Ramotswa constituency school heads recently.

Mr Moagi, said such indiscipline should be addressed urgently because it was spiraling out of control.

He urged community leaders to assist teachers and parents in disciplining learners in a lawful manner. “It is regrettable that corporal punishment is now seen as unlawful, but it was a way of getting children in line in the olden days.

So I urge you to try to find lawful punishment that will be efficient and effective,” he said.

The minister also advised school heads to report other problems they were faced with in schools. On other issues, MP Moagi said problems such as poor school maintenance were sometimes caused the inept attitude of some employees who still got paid by government.

He said such people should be reported and dealt with.

One of the school heads, Mr Frank Mochotlhi lamented shortage of classrooms in schools, adding a shifting programme was introduced to reduce the number of learners during COVID-19.

He said the arrangement negatively affected performance because learners did not spend enough time in classrooms. He suggested that technical subjects be introduced at lower primary level.

He also said south east schools were among the best countrywide, but teachers were not celebrated for their great efforts or promoted. That, he complained demotivated teachers. ENDS