Fourty-two-year old Tlhaelo Ramontsho regrets taking her child to a private school. The diamond sorter says, despite the huge amounts of money she paid the institution, her child lacked in many aspects of education.
"I think private education is better when the child is older but at an early age, government education is the best. When my child left private school in Standard Three, he couldn't read well despite speaking fluent English. Since he enrolled in a public school he has improved," she relates.She argues that a private school is too preoccupied with teaching pupils how to speak English at the expense of reading and writing skills. She says, despite the school fees which have skyrocketed in the recent past, she will return her child to a private school when he is older to benefit from the small teacher-student ratio.
She contends that this will give her son a better chance to get a place at university where spaces are limited.
While demand for private education remains high, public education will be around for the longest time because the majority of Batswana earn too little to afford private education.The low pass rates in the public education system has made it an unenviable place for many. Lack of motivation amongst teachers owing to unsatisfactory incentives is viewed as a contributor to the declining quality of public education.Distance is also a factor. While private school children are provided with transport, those who go to public school, especially in rural areas, travel long distances to access basic education.
