Double shifts to cease in secondary schools

ISAAC PINIELO
Correspondent | Wednesday August 25, 2010 00:00

 

Addressing a full council meeting yesterday, Nyeku said the intention is to cease this system with effect from 2011. He however indicated that Montsamaisa Junior Secondary School will continue to offer double shifts due to the large number of learners from primary schools in the city and the fact that the Gerald Junior Secondary School will not be built as expected due to financial constraints.

In the past, there have been concerns that the double-shift system, which was being piloted in some government-aided secondary schools, had created chaos. Despite these concerns, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development has been defending the system and denying rumours that it would be terminated.

The double shift system was introduced in 2006 in a bid to increase access from junior to secondary schools. But lately, the numbers for transition from junior to secondary schools in the double shift piloting schools have been dwindling and this has precipitated talk that the government could be on the verge of 'terminating' the double shift.

Schools piloting the double shift include Montsamaisa Community Junior Secondary School, Swaneng Hill School, Maun Senior Secondary School, Matsha Senior Secondary School, Bokamoso Community Junior Secondary School, Gaborone Senior Secondary School, Kgari Sechele Senior Secondary School, Francistown Senior Secondary School, Seepapitso Senior Secondary School and Rakops Community Secondary School.

The mayor has also noted that there are six newly established adult learner groups, in addition to the existing 20 which are at Selepa Junior Secondary School, Maradu Primary School and Bokowe Ward Development Committee (WDC).