Approximately 10, 000 failed JC students make it to Form 4

Baboki Kayawe | Friday February 17, 2017 11:21

Of the 41, 938 who sat for the final 2016 Junior Certificate Examinations last year, only 13, 839 or 33% of them obtained grades C, B and A, while the remaining 67.56% obtained grades D, E with some ungraded.

One student was admitted with an average score of 5.3, having obtained D in Setswana, D in English, another D in Maths, E for Integrated Science, D in Social Studies, another D obtained for Agriculture, E in Design and Technology and a U in French.

Asked what the criteria used for selection was, Basic Education ministry spokesperson Lebogang Nyadza said there was no specific cut off for those who obtained D.

“What guided the selection are the overall points or marks obtained by a Grade D student. Therefore, the higher the points or marks one get, the greater the chances for placement,” she said.

Those who failed to transition to senior school will be absorbed by Botswana College of Distance and Open Learning, majority will go to vocational institutions; technical colleges and brigades.

Though the placement notice was only released on  Wednesday, education ministry says students open next Tuesday.

“All 2017 Form 4s should report to their respective schools on Tuesday 21st February 2017. However, all those admitted as boarders should report on Monday 20th February 2017,” says the ministry of education communiqué.

However, parents have objected to the very short period given to prepare for this transition.

Meanwhile, government has justified the admission of D grades to Form 4, which started in 2013 following the unprecedented poor 2012 JCE results based on the argument that D in the current grading system is a good performance relative to prior to 2012 when the system was different.