Mahalapye District grapples with school dropouts

 

Mahalapye District Council Chairman, Banthasetse Merementsi has expressed concern at the rate of school drop-outs in his district.

The district has a total enrolment of 37 080 learners from pre-primary to senior secondary level since the beginning of 2024, with 2 246 pupils coming from reception classes. At primary level the district has 23 721 learners.

Merementsi told a Full Council meeting that in junior secondary schools, the district has 8 484 students. “Our senior schools carry a total of 2 568 learners. Brigades have only 328, while Out of School Education and Training (OSET) has 472,” he said.

Merementsi indicated that all primary schools in the district have reception classes even though the district does not have adequate classroom facilities. This does not however mean they have realised their goal of access to quality education by all.

“The district is still facing challenges regarding school dropouts. Currently there are five drop outs in term two 2024, as compared to 11 in term one 2024 mostly attributed to illness, pregnancy, desertion and truancy in our senior secondary schools.

“It is therefore, of paramount importance for all key stakeholders to collaborate and come up with ways to restore the family structure to instil strong values in the children to secure their future,” the Council Chairman said.

According to Merementsi, standard four (4) term one performance for the district is 53 percent. Schools, which performed at 80 percent and above, are Maape with 100 percent, Mokubatse with 86.7 percent, Mmuabui with 86.3 percent, Bonwapitse 87 percent and Mosolotshane 81 percent.

He said schools which scored below 50 percent are Frederick, Dovedale, Moineedi, Kudumatse, Mookane, Nthompe Koma and Pallaroad, Mathako, Thabakanaka, Mokobeng, Ramokgonami, Pilikwe, and Tumasera. As for standard seven, the district performance for term one 2024 stands at 58 percent. Schools, which performed at 80 percent and above are, Maape, Mokubatse, Tamocha and Shoshong primaries while Sefhare, Mmutle, Mathako, Mokgenene, Mokibe, Tirelo, Ikongwe, Setlhomo, Moralane and Poloka scored below 50 percent.

“In the Form three category, the district performed at 40.2 percent in term one 2024. Shoshong JSS scored 40.2 percent, Pekenene 38.3 percent, Morale 31.88 percent, Mowana 30.5 percent, Sefhare 25 percent, Mokobeng 24.6 percent, Kalamare 22.4 percent, Sesholo 21.9 percent, Mahutagane 20.6 percent and lastly Dikgatlho JSS with 10.7 percent.

“Our senior secondary schools’ term one 2024 performance is at 14.6 percent. Madiba SSS scored 15.1 percent while Shoshong SS scored only 14.1 percent on six Credits (Cs) or better”, Merementsi revealed.

The chairman said it is clear from the results that the schools are performing below targets currently and if better results are to be obtained at the end of the year, the district needs to do more.

Merementsi told Councillors that employing strategies such as Mathematics and Science fairs, project methods, school support and inspections, as well as motivating both teachers and students will assist in improving academic performance in schools in the districts.