Tlokweng schools battle classroom shortage, poor results
Pini Bothoko | Thursday September 18, 2025 09:37
According to the latest Tlokweng District Development Committee (DDC) Report, both primary and junior secondary schools are struggling to house the growing number of learners. To mitigate the shortage, schools have resorted to double-shift learning and the use of spaces not originally designed as classrooms.
“These initiatives are being implemented to ensure that more learners are accommodated despite the shortage of standard classroom infrastructure,” reads the report.
Beyond infrastructure, the report also paints a worrying picture of academic performance in the district. The report reveals that all primary and junior secondary schools failed to meet regional pass targets, suggesting systemic challenges at foundational levels of education.
“The major issue of poor performance at the lower level is that it will reduce chances of further education and learning opportunities,” the DDC warned.
To address the problem, the district is planning several interventions. These include introducing vacation and weekend learning programmes, promoting student-centred methods such as topic presentations by learners, continuing with academic empowerment strategies, and rolling out a ‘drop and read’ initiative to improve literacy and comprehension.
The DDC stressed that addressing classroom shortages and improving results are key priorities if learners in Tlokweng are to stand a better chance of succeeding in higher levels of education.
On a positive note, the report revealed that a total budget allocation of P139,440 was made for the procurement of school furniture, though the report stated that the funds proved insufficient to fully satisfy requirements. However, the district further stated that it is committed to advocating for an increased budget to adequately address the school furniture needs.
“For the financial year 2025–2026, the budget allocation was reduced to P83,000 from the original estimate of P139,440. Procurement is scheduled for completion before the end of the second quarter,” further reads the report.
Addressing schools' inspections in the district, the report revealed that all Tlokweng primary schools, junior secondary schools, and the College of Education were inspected and found to comply with the minimum health standards. However, significant concerns were expressed regarding the timely maintenance of facilities within both the primary and junior secondary schools.
“Budgetary constraints have been identified as the primary obstacle to prompt upkeep. The district will continue to engage with various stakeholders to explore the potential implementation of an 'Adopt-a-School' initiative aimed at supporting the maintenance of school infrastructure,” reads the report.