Overcrowding, limited resources strain Serowe schools – Report
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday June 17, 2025 11:24
According to the report by the Serowe District Development Committee (DDC), junior secondary schools in the sub-region have enrolled a total of 6,285 students, comprising 3,007 boys and 3,278 girls.
Senior secondary schools have also recorded 1,584 students, with 760 boys and 824 girls enrolled. This brings the total learner population in the district to 7,869.
The DDC notes that most schools are battling significant challenges, including overcrowded classrooms, inadequate furniture, and overstretched boarding facilities.
These constraints have led to the deterioration of infrastructure in many schools, hindering the delivery of quality education.
In response, authorities have introduced several interventions aimed at relieving congestion in affected schools.
One such measure includes the redirection of girls from Majwanaadipitse and Tshimoyapula who previously attended Mmashoro Junior Secondary School (JSS), to Patikwane and Bonwatlou JSS.
This redirection is intended to ease the pressure on Mmashoro JSS' boarding facilities.
Plans are also underway to expand Mmashoro and Mothamo JSS to accommodate more learners and improve learning conditions.
The DDC emphasised the importance of these interventions in sustaining education standards in the district, whilst also calling for long-term solutions to address infrastructure deficits and rising enrolment numbers.
Regarding schools' academic performance, the report revealed that mock examination results for secondary schools were done and the analysis was that Mannathoko posted 45.11% in mock examination results.
Another school, Semane showed 41.49% in mock examination results, the results analysis that generally showed a downward trend in performance for most schools.
“Kgalemang JSS showed a marked improvement in JC results as they posted 59.10% in 2023. However, of significant mention is the marked improvement for Patikwane JSS which has been one of our poor performers. Interventions such as rigorous revision have been put in place to ensure an improved result from the previous year. The office continues to put interventions,” reads the report.
Furthermore, the report revealed that the sub-region has noted some dropouts stating that there were 57 desertions, two deaths, one for ill-health,17 truants and five pregnancies.
The driver for dropouts was notable at Makolojwane, St Augustine primary schools, Mothamo and Mmashoro Junior Secondary Schools.
To address the situation, the guidance and counselling units in schools continues to address the high level of dropouts through various interventions such as motivational talks amongst others.
Addressing the status of Outcome Based Education (OBE), the report further stated that the ministry leadership has taken a decision to suspend phase II implementation of OBE due to serious resource constraints. Consequently, it was stated that the current Form 4 cohort has been reverted to the previous BGCSE curriculum.