02 Mar 2014

In their pursuit to help mould an educated and informed nation, Middlepits police have awarded Gakhibane Primary School a trophy as an appreciation for their triple academic excellence in the Primary School leaving Examinations (PSLE).

According to south divisional commander, Mr Oreeditse Mautle, the police officers came up with the initiative of motivational and performance improvement in 2011 after realising that results were poor in the Middlepits policing area. The Middlepits cluster has six primary schools of Kolonkwaneng, Bogogobo, Khuis, Middlepits, Khawa and Gakhibane.

Mr Mautle added that awarding excellence extended to building a knowledgeable and responsible society, arguing that once educated, students were likely to be productive and hence less criminal activities will be recorded. “Education is the key to a better life, it changes our lives for the better thus, it is best if we motivate our children from a tender age,” Mr Mautle said.

Middlepits police officers contributed money out of their pockets to buy the trophy, and also handed P1000 cash to the school, P500 of which was awarded to the best performing student in 2013, Memory Jacobs.

For his part, school head, Mr Mofana Tumaeletse said that despite the challenge of not having electricity at the school, they managed to excel and it was a feat they were proud of. Their vigour, he said, was inspired by the theme “In pursuit of academic excellence, amidst challenges and tribulations.”

Mr Tumaeletse observed that since the Middlepits police pledged to motivate the best performing students, there has been a positive change in the students’ performances. “Students need motivation, they need to be encouraged and supported so that they take their work seriously,” he said.

He presented the primary school leaving results as follows; in 2009 the overall performance was at 15 per cent and the A, B, C pass was 15 per cent. In 2010, it was 57 per cent and 19 per cent. In 2011 the overall performance was 59 per cent and the A, B pass was at 23.5 per cent. In 2012, the overall performance stood at 52 per cent and the A, B pass was 21.7 per cent. In 2013, the overall performance was 62.5 per cent and the A, B pass was 37 per cent.

The school head extended gratitude to Middlepits police for showing the spirit of goodwill. He urged parents to take a part in their children’s education as well as work hand in hand with teachers, quoting the old saying, “Setshwarwa ke ntsa pedi ga se thata.” ENDS