Govt�s curse on Shakawe

Mmegi Editor | Thursday February 26, 2015 16:43

Just over a year ago, the school made debut results with the same level of pass rate.  The first batch of students had just settled in the school after they had to attend classes at Maun Senior Secondary School, over 500 kilometres away from home. They had to do that because their school was still under construction after it was discovered that the contractor had initially omitted brick force to reinforce the classroom walls.

When they returned to the school, they had to do without teachers, textbooks, accommodation, and water. Despite the outcry, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD)went ahead as if it was business as usual, and a few months later, the students sat for the examination like all other students in the country. They competed against colleagues who have had all learning needs at their disposal.

The results were devastating, but the same Ministry refused to let the students repeat. It was only after pressure from the National Assembly and the public, that  MoESD invited the students to register for distance learning.

The students had to use their own money to travel to registration centres, and subsequently – learning centres. As for now, it is not known where they are, or what the future holds for them.

Shakawe school is the learning centre for youth in the Okavango District, which is counted among the most impoverished districts. Unemployment in this area is very high, there is less chance for any person to survive on menial jobs like in other parts of the country.

Cattle farming has died due to Foot and Mouth Disease, and Government’s policy of giving priority to wildlife than cattle farming in the area. So, with poor results every year, we can only count the area as zero as far as human development is concerned. We are waiting in eager anticipation to see what Government’s response will be, and what it intends to do to address it; with short and long term solutions.

Meanwhile, we are also waiting for Government to share its solutions to the problem of ever-dropping students’ performance in public schools. These poor results have serious implications on the country’s economy and its potential to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

It is our hope that our leaders will start preaching on the importance of education as much as they continue with their campaign on the distribution of blankets, food hampers; and diphaphatha and soup.