Phikwe schools thrive against odds

Academic underachievement continues to be a source of grave concern to both parents and government. Multiple measures put in place to address the pandemic of low academic achievement levels are yet to bear fruit. But one is afraid that this pandemic will persist as long there is no proper diagnosis of the cancer eating our schools.

Without an appropriate diagnosis of the problem at hand, the system runs the risk of misfiring, misallocation of resources and hopping from one solution to the other without any tangible results. Professor Jaap Kuiper’s study on low student grades in Botswana secondary schools gives a clear picture of the nature of the problem at hand. Kuiper observed that students do not fail, but “schools fail them”.

This is a blunt and less diplomatic position calling on those privileged to teach our children to introspect and take full responsibility of whatever is going in their schools. Schools just like soldiers in a battlefield cannot afford to falter. In the army they say mission failure is not an option. And so schools have a duty to move a large proportion of students into proficiency and this is a noble duty that schools must execute with military precision. Excuse making or scape-goating should not be entertained when the mission is not accomplished. When students do not achieve as expected, it is common to fix the blame on students for being ‘unteachable’ and failure to apply themselves fully on their studies.

Editor's Comment
Congratulations Anicia Gaothuse!

The contest had 10 beautiful young girls as finalists and unfortunately only one could wear the crown.The judges picked Anicia Gaothuse. To all those who feel their contestant should have won ahead of Anicia for whatever reason, hardly; the judges found Anicia to be the best among the best, so desist from disrespecting our newly crowned queen on social media or anywhere else, for that matter! Each of the 10 beautiful young women had supporters...

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