Repeating Std Seven not compulsory
Baboki Kayawe | Thursday January 9, 2014 15:51
Further, as explained by MoESD repeats at Standard 7 are not compulsory because the decision lies with the parent, learner and the school (primary). According to ministry spokesperson Silas Sehularo, if the trio consent on having a learner re-do standard 7 the process goes on, which is not the case if any of the involved parties object.
While he agrees that admissions to junior secondary schools have been processed, and classes started Tuesday, education authorities say consultations between learners whose PSLE results and continuous assessment reports indicate a need for repeats have been held.
“We have admitted students to junior schools as usual, the process is still ongoing after assessed progression learners with poor grades were recommended for repeating,” Sehularo said. He added that there would not be situations where learners are recalled from secondary school, because those who have agreed on repeating have not bought junior school uniforms or not even transited to the next level. As of yet, authorities could not say the number of repeating pupils nationally, or even a breakdown among the 10 regional education offices.
“The number of repeaters can only be known in due course,” Sehularo said. Commenting on the issue of congestion as repeats would translate into increased population of learners, demand for classrooms and learning facilities as well as increased operational costs, he said the net enrolment rate is at 93.1% currently, and they do not expect any congestion.
He added, “The Ministry’s budget is based on the projected population, which is anticipated to be in schools. The budget therefore is for 100% net enrolment rate.”
This arrangement is for all learners admitted into the education system regardless of whether the pupils are from communities that have traditional challenges such as language barriers, in instances of non-Setswana speaking learners (who do not understand instructions from teachers who are not speaking their native languages especially at a time when the mode of communication is Setswana) whom national exams result(s) and research have indicated that learning is very difficult in their context and also, people with disabilities and learning complexities.
As to what happens to learners whose results do not improve after being granted a second chance, Sehularo explained that the implementation of repetition would be accompanied by remediation to ensure improvement in the achievement of learners. Remediation will also be provided at the next level (Form 1) for low performers.
He added that that the system would not leave out low performing learners as a reinforcement of the MDGs on access and quality education.
This arrangement is a recommendation of the Revised National Policy on Education, and also in the Education Act of 1967. The policy emphasises on assessed progress where throughout primary level, learners are assessed on their performance. Low performers can either repeat at standard 4 or standard 7 whilst high performers can be accelerated to the next level, explained Sehularo.
A total 43,788 candidates sat for the 2013 PSLE, of this number, 22,135 were females 21,653 were males. Five thousand five hundred and eighty of the total candidature obtained grade A, 7,688 got B, there are 16,323 Cs, 11,422 were awarded grade D, 2,544 got E, three did not meet the requirement for grade E hence were awarded U, whereas 228 (X) failed to meet requirements for the award of qualification.