27 Jan 2026

Member of Parliament for Kanye West, Mr Victor Phologolo, has urged schools to adopt monitoring and evaluation of academic results as a standard practice rather than a reactive measure used only when problems arise.

Speaking at an Education Pitso in Gasita recently, Mr Phologolo emphasised that proactive oversight was key to sustained success. He highlighted Gasita Primary School as a positive example and praised the school for its ability to recognise and build upon improvements.

The legislator challenged parents, teachers and the local community to collaborate on a goal to push the school’s current 72 per cent pass rate beyond the 80 per cent mark. Mr Phologolo stressed his conviction that local challenges were best resolved through community-driven initiatives and a sense of local ownership.

Kanye District Deputy Council Secretary for Operations, Mr Emmanuel Kganetso, addressed the hurdles facing the district. He attributed delays in service delivery, particularly the procurement of cleaning materials and computers, to lengthy tendering processes and tightened economic climate.

Given such budget constraints, Mr Kganetso appealed to parents to take a more active role. He suggested that families contributed where possible by providing stationery and learning materials rather than depending entirely on government support.

The forum took a candid turn when learners from Gasita Primary School shared the obstacles hindering their performance. Key concerns included domestic exhaustion where learners argued that excessive household chores left them too tired to study.

They raised concerns about constant scolding, which they said was a major distraction to their concentration. Adding to their concerns were classroom disruptions given that they were frequently sent to borrow stationery from other classes during lessons. They further indicated that physical punishment by teachers negatively impacted their motivation.

In response to the learners’ grievances, Kanye Sub-Region acting chief education officer, Ms Galaletsang Robby, cautioned teachers against the use of corporal punishment. Ms Robby advocated for adoption of positive discipline methods that prioritised learners’ well-being.

However, Ms Robby commended staff for their hard work and achieving a 20 per cent improvement in results last year. She urged the school to sustain the strategies that drove such gains to ensure continued progress this academic year.

The Education Pitso provided a valuable platform for open dialogue among legislators, officials, parents and learners, all focused on the shared mission of improving educational outcomes in the region. BOPA