Soaring School Dropout Rate A Concern

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday May 28, 2018 13:29

Briefing the Tlokweng sub district council recently, the DC said they had recorded seven cases of learner dropout statistics for the quarter ending March 2018.

“Various reasons featured in the records include lack of interest in school work by learners and pregnancies.

Several student indiscipline cases were recorded in junior schools, which mainly include vandalism, stealing and bullying.  This behaviour is a result of general misconduct and alcohol and substance abuse, which ultimately affects student performance,” Boitshwarelo said.

Still on education, Boitshwarelo said Out-of-School Education and Training (OSET) is still experiencing below target enrolment, but they had managed to retain all their previous learners.

He continued: “Potential learners are not coming forth to enrol despite efforts being made to recruit more learners”.

The DC said late assessment of students with disabilities by Central Resources Centre (CRC) still remains a challenge, which hinders appropriate assistance or intervention being rendered accordingly.

He said this leads to a high failure rate among this cohort.

However, the DC said early childhood care and education is reportedly doing well with all registered private centres (pre-schools) complying and aligning with council standards.

 Boitshwarelo told councillors that brigade enrolment stood at 174, and due to semesterisation and rationalisation, they currently have first year classes till next intake in August 2018.

 He said though targeted capacity is not achieved, there is need for more classes to cater for the August intake.

“About 23 learners dropped out due to various reasons like absconding, job seeking and parenting.  Retention strategies like counselling, involvement of guardians, following up absconders and liaising with social welfare officers are necessary,” he said.

The DC emphasised that they still have challenges of textbooks and calculators in schools in both primary and junior secondary schools and use of pit latrines at Tlokweng Junior secondary School.

He requested councillors to encourage parents and learners to return books and replace them when lost, parents to participate in cost sharing to buy calculators for their children and lobby for water system toilets from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.