12 Feb 2025

Setlalekgosi Junior Secondary School head has attributed collaboration, commitment and involvement of learners, parents and teachers for the school’s impressive 2024 Junior Certificate Examination results.

The school attained position one regionally and eighth nationally with a pass rate of 64.6 per cent compared to 67.5 per cent in 2023.

Mr Terence Seitiso said in an interview that though the results declined by 2.9 per cent, they were impressive considering the 60 per cent pass rate the school had set for itself.

Nonetheless, he said what was impressive was that this year’s results showed that the school management and teachers were relentless and indefatigable in their pursuit of academic excellence.

Mr Seitiso stated that the school management saw to it that the school environment was conducive for learning by sacrificing their time even outside working hours to attend to the needs of learners.

“We have developed 21st century learners who are focused on their academic journey and through Parents Teachers Association (PTA), parents are also active participants in their children’s education as they come through for PTA meetings and report collection and also make sure learning continues even at home,” Mr Seitiso said.

He said feedback after every monthly tests was one of the strategies the school used to keep track of results. Mr Seitiso said Setlalekgosi JSS learners were disciplined and focused on their academic work and that bore positive results.

The school receives commendable support from the community in moulding the learners to become responsible and accountable citizens who are able to face today’s dynamic challenges, said Mr Seitiso and added that coaching learners and career guidance efforts helped them to remain focused on their school work.

Like many other schools, Setlalekgosi is not without challenges as it experienced shortage of stationery but both teachers and learners did not allow that to discourage them.

Also Mr Seitiso said eight teachers went to further their studies and their positions were not filled on time leading to a gap in delivering knowledge. His wish is to see schools equipped with Internet to make learning easier and for learners to be in line with the evolving technology around them.

An Art teacher, Mr Monamati Beku, whose class attained 91 per cent pass rate, said hard work and determination should be embedded in minds of learners because a negative attitude toward a subject would not produce positive results.

He said the school emphasised on discipline and that the learners followed a particular culture making it easier for them to remain focused in their academic work.

Mr Beku further said the relationship between the teacher and the learner was vital since it allowed for knowledge to flow smoothly between the two parties and also for learners to be free to ask for clarity when lost.

“My students are my friends and our relationship is the reason we achieve excellence,” he added.

Mr Beku said 14Bs and 17Cs did not come by luck but through consistent hard work.

PTA chairperson, Mr Reginal Monageng attributed the school’s success to effective communication noting that the association also assisted where the school was lacking.  ENDS