31 Jan 2022

Debswana leads in providing transformation power through provision of tutors, resources and capacitation of Boteti schools, Regional Operations director in the Ministry of Basic Education, Mr Sane Mooketsi has stated.

Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday, to discuss academic performance in Boteti schools and map a way forward, Mr Mooketsi said with Debswana’s continued support, the expectation was that schools in turn, should improve results.

He said partnerships offered the ministry benefits which contributed to better pupils’ outcome in the form of higher grades, better attendance and increased motivation.

Mr Mooketsi said the aim was that schools should form partnerships with the shared goal of helping pupils, adding effective partnerships achieved that goal by creating programmes that expanded a school’s presence in the community and giving students greater access to resources outside the classroom.

He said schools should respect and be committed to the partnership.

“We have to come to the party to honour agreements and allow partners into schools and support their initiative,” he said but expressed disappointment that some schools were reportedly not showing commitment to the partnership and emphasised that the ministry was committed to the partnership and expected schools to do the same.

For his part, Debswana senior teacher Mr Edwin Ntau said the aim was to improve pupils’ performance in the core subject of English, Mathematics and Science.

He said that they wanted all schools in Boteti region to be in the top thirty.

Mr Ntau pleaded with school heads to work with them and take advantage of the programme, to improve learner’s performance.

He said when the programme started, it targeted only Orapa Junior Secondary Schools but was re-focused to offer support to schools in their zone of influence. Thus they were now working with 35 schools.

Mr Ntau expressed concern that most of the teachers when visited by Debswana team, failed to engage them, which frustrated their efforts.

Teachers, he said were also failing to develop strategies, saying most of the strategies were not convincing.

“People should not be distressed by transferred to Boteti, instead parents should look should look forward to enrolling their children in schools such as Letlhakane Senior Secondary School, Xhumo and Xere primary schools among others,” he said.

Mokubilo Primary School head, Ms Ikageng Segolodi said their target for 2021 PSLE results was 15.6 per cent and they got 47.8 per cent for AB.

She said teachers worked extra hours as they also during weekends but the challenge was that pupils were underperforming while also compelled to shift.

Teachers pointed to issues of parental negligence, truancy, late arrival of boarding students, sexual relationships and lack of electricity as hindrances. Ends