By OBAKENG MAJE
Most schools in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District continue to produce poor results. These startling revelations sent shock waves during the North West MEC for Education, Wendy Matsemela’s roadshow in Vryburg on 9 September 2022.
Thirty schools performed poorly and obtained less than 70% in their 2021 Final Matric Examinations. The Greater Taung Sub-district is leading the pack with 14 most underperforming schools, followed by Lekwa-Teeman Sub-district with 11, Kagisano Molopo Sub-district has 5.
In efforts to improve the matric results in the province, Matsemela said school principals were given an opportunity to present and outline their challenges. She said a team of experts advised them on how to overcome the situation.
“I also highlighted that, the underperforming schools are placed in the spotlight of the department. These schools are given special attention to get out of the trap zone of 70% by zooming into their problematic areas.
“These strategies have worked miraculously in the past. We know that, when they go back to their schools, they will implement them (strategies). These sessions paid dividends in improving the position of the province nationally,” she said.
Matsemela said, this year, the North West province is targeting to be amongst the top 3 positions in the country. She added that, the session lasted for two days as they started with the Greater Taung and followed by Naledi Sub-district.
“The underperforming schools were also coupled with the best performing school principals to share best practices. The interventions are held under the theme of “Ngwana Sejo Wa Tlhakanelwa” loosely translated as “It takes the whole village to raise a child.”
Matsemela’s next stop will be Bojanala District this week to meet with underperforming schools’ principals.
The Guardian 