Marginal decline in school dropouts still a concern �SDC
Lebogang Baingapi | Wednesday March 22, 2017 15:29
A lessened number of dropouts was recorded from 526 in 2015 to a total of 230 in the year 2016. SDC chairperson, Alec Seametso noted, though grudgingly, during a full council meeting here Monday that the region continues to make strides in strengthening available interventions to curb the situation.
Seametso said quitting is due to pregnancy, ill-health, death and unknown desertion.
He said statistics show that 109 pupils dropped out of primary schools, 93 students from junior secondary schools while 28 students dropped out at senior secondary schools.
“The region continues to embrace new initiatives such as Moshupa Senior’s ‘Operation Tswala Dirope’ and Goodhope Senior’s ‘Moithuti to Moithuti Campaign’ as well as bootcamps for Form 4 students,” he said.
Seametso further indicated that seasonal desertion of schools normally occurs during harvesting season and the Goodhope and Jwaneng/Mabutsane sub-regions are the most affected.
Khakhea councillor, Kelatlhilwe Paraffin said most of the students desert schools to work in farms. She said they have been working with social workers to arrest the situation.
She noted that education remains a priority to Government and they will do all they can to return them to school.
Her area covers Khakhea as well as Kutuku and Ithokole settlements. Pitsane ward councillor, Lazarus Ncube also stated that most of the quitters come from his ward at Montshiwa Junior Secondary School due to pregnancy.
He further said some quit due to long distance between their residences and the school, which is 10km away.
Most of those who have experienced shortage of transport in their area to take them to schools are from Rakhuna, Malokaganyane, Ramatlabama and Ngwatsau.
On other issues, councillors gave their budget and proposed projects thumbs up.
Ncube noted that the proposed land servicing in his area and another project at Maiphitlhwane Primary School, remain some of the achievements for the coming 2017-2018 financial year. Councillor, Tautona Takane of Sesung/Selokolela ward applauded the approved budget of over P365 million as “it will help to speed up procurement of school stationery and monthly rations for destitute persons.”