Africa-Press – Botswana. Mokolodi Primary School pupils have been advised to put extra effort in their academic work.
That, Gabane/Mmankgodi MP, Mr Kagiso Mmusi told the learners, would help them realise their aspirations.
MP Mmusi, who was speaking during a tour of the school recently, lauded management for the unwavering support, professionalism and commitment.
The school opened its doors in 2009 and is among those with the smallest learner population.
Mr Mmusi said due to COVID-19 outbreak, the budget for other developments was strained but since the school was a grooming nest for future generation, he promised support in its growth and development.
He said his office partnered with the Indian Embassy to provide free scholarships to Batswana who wished to further their studies or enrol for tertiary education in India.
The legislator encouraged Mokolodi Primary School teachers to enrol for the programme to grow their knowledge in countries like India.
The schoolhead, Ms Baakile Kesebonye, who joined the school in 2021, said when the school first opened it enrolled about 99 pupils but currently enrollment stood at 340 learners.
“The increase in population of pupils strains the existing resources as now the school has to work with eight classrooms, 13 teachers for a population of 340 pupils,” Ms Kesebonye said.
She explained that the school faced some challenges which had an impact on the academic performance.
She said learners travelled long distances to school because the existing donkey cart only catered for standard one to three pupils.
She also lamented shortage of consumable goods, classrooms and staff, adding learners’ absenteeism was also a concern.
Ms Kesebonye added that learners also failed to come to school during rainy season because they had to cross a stream which at times was not safe.
She therefore pleaded with the MP’s office to assist, especially with the stream of learners who had to cross the stream to go to school.
She said in the midst of challenges they continued flying high in their Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE).
Ms Kesebonye said they aimed to provide quality education by promoting child-friendly school, motivate staff and ensure parent involvement in the education of their children.
She said the past five years the school had recorded a positive change in their PSLE pass rate.
“In 2021 and 2022 PSLE results we took position one in Gabane/Mmankgodi Constituency and position two in Kweneng Region”, she added.
She also applauded Ms Malegogo Ketshabile, a standard seven teacher, for her dedication in providing quality education.
She said Ms Ketshabile started teaching in 2007 and joined Mokolodi Primary School in 2019 bringing positive changes to the school’s academic results.
In an interview, Ms Ketshabile she said producing consistent and good results required dedication, passion, discipline and time sacrifice.
She said during her teaching years, she had been a supporter of study camps and introduced standard seven exam-based study camp which usually lasted for a week and it worked just as perfectly, surprisingly in a remote area.
Ms Ketshabile did not only introduce study camps, but had also partnered with Pastor Kathryn Motlhageng of World Soul Winners Church who usually came at least once a week for spiritual guidance and to address issues that learners were faced with.
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