By OBAKENG MAJE
Rabodigelo Primary in Ditshilong village, near Taung will be amongst the first 300 schools in poor and economically marginalised communities, where breakfast will be introduced. This was announced by the embattled North West Premier, Bushy Maape during his State of the Province (SOPA) at North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) in Mahikeng on Friday.
Maape also said, there are strategic plans in place to ensure that there are improvements in terms of National Senior Certificate results. He further said, the province is targeting position one in the 2023 matric results calendar.
“Poverty and hunger impact on the mental state of learners and their ability to fully participate in effective learning. In fulfilling our obligations to meet the adequate nutrition levels of the most vulnerable, Dingake Primary in Verdwaal, Rabodigelo Primary in Ditshilong (Taung), Gaeonale Primary in Kgokgojane, Modubyane Primary in Pitsedisulejang and Kgolane Primary in Dwarsberg will be amongst the first 300 schools in poor and economically marginalised communities, where breakfast will be introduced.
“To date, the government continues to feed 744 320 learners in more than 1300 schools across the province. We will be rolling out the sanitary dignity towels to 120 000 learners in quintile 1 to 3 schools at a cost of R17.7 million. Schools that will benefit from this programme include Mmoledi Secondary in Phitsane, Boskuil Combined and Batlokwa Secondary in Molatedi village, and many others,” said Maape.
He said, they also want to reclaim their position as one of the two best-performing provinces in terms of National Senior Certificate results. Maape said, however, they can only do this if they re-double and multiply their efforts.
“A detailed Provincial Matric Results Improvement Plan to take forward our achievement will be communicated by the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi during her budget speech.
“Our government will roll out access to the internet, through broadband and Wi-Fi from the current 25 % of learners to 75% in the current academic year. He added that, this will see the government expanding broadband connectivity to schools to the tune of R31.2 million,” he said.
Maape said the provision of sanitary dignity towels will be extended to deserving community members with the North West Departments of Health and Social Development taking a lead in the implementation of this rollout.
The province received a 79.8% pass rate during the 2022 calendar and occupied position five.
Meanwhile, the DA’s Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in North West, Winston Rabotapi who is also DA’s provincial spokesperson on Education said, almost 30 000 learners dropped out of school before reaching matric.
“Even though the North West Department of Education recorded 79.8%, however, this pass rate does not account for the 27 243 learners who dropped out of the school system since Grade 10 in 2020.
“So, considering the high drop-out rate, the real matric pass rate in North West is actually 49.2% This means that half of the 71 066 pupils who began Grade 10 in 2020, failed to complete matric,” said Rabotapi.
He said, it is also disappointing to see North West province further drop in its provincial ranking from being in the 4th position in 2021 to the 5th spot in 2022.
The Guardian 