09 Jan 2014

It is every parent’s dream that his or her children get the best education and parents usually look for what they think are the best schools to register their children for perceived quality education.

At Gaborone West’s Phase Two location, there is a primary school called Masa, which appears to be the favourite of a lot of parents considering the numbers that usually throng the learning institution at every turn of the year.

This year on Tuesday, January 7, the school was yet again a beehive of activity as no parent was prepared to miss a valuable chance to register their child to start learning at their most preferred school. Interestingly, some parents had come all the way from Molepolole and Kopong villages, shunning a lot of schools in their areas just to register their child at Masa Primary School.

Ms Rosemary Koontse, Masa school head, said in an interview that 154 Standard One pupils had been admitted at her school and that represented overcrowding, particularly because classrooms are not enough. Ms Tebogo Gabotsalelwe, residing at Phase Two, said she chose Masa Primary School because she considers it the best amongst others.

“I believe that my child has come to the right school,” she said, adding that although the school is overcrowded, it always produces good results.

Another parent, Mr Zaid Ramaina, residing at Tsolamosese, said he regarded the school as the best, adding that he had no doubt that his child was going to pass with flying colours. Mr Ramaina said Masa was a school of transparency, good communication practices and boasted of a strong and united Parents Teachers Association (PTA).

“If teachers do have updates on children’s progress, they always communicate with parents,” he said.

Addressing parents on Tuesday, a Guidance and Counseling teacher Ms Mosepedi Magono advised them against forcing a child to school if he or she is not ready.

“If a child is six years and they are not ready, do not force them because it is a challenge for both us and the child,” she said.

Ms Magono said the fact that some students come from far places showed how preferable the school is; “however, this is a challenge for a child as she or he has to wake up early to travel the long distance to school,” she said. She also urged parents to buy school uniform, highlighting that it can be demoralising for a child to have no uniform while others have; that can also affect his or her studies, she said.

On the other side of Gaborone to the south lies another school parents consider worth the mark. A visit to the school on the same day revealed a similar experience as parents there fought to register their children. The School Head, Ms Pauline Mogaga said: “What happened at Masa also happened here at St Josephs.  I have admitted 42 pupils instead of 40 and more parents are still begging for admission.”

She noted that her school admitted a few pupils from Mmokolodi, Notwane farms, St Josephs and a lot were from Gabane, Ramotswa, Mogoditshane and Tlokweng.  ENDS