FSSS aims to continue with excellent results
Pini Bothoko | Friday April 17, 2015 16:16
The Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) rated FSSS the most improved school in last year’s BGCSE results after scooping position eight from 26.
For a while, FSSS has been amongst the poorest performing schools.
In re-branding the school, parents and teachers this week reached an agreement to work together to produce good results in years to come.
The arrangement was made during this year’s first Parents Teachers Association (PTA) meeting held at the school’s multi purpose hall on Tuesday.
FSSS head, Safania Tabona, told parents that the school caters for more than 1,600 students and therefore needed team effort of students, teachers and parents in order to produce good results.
Tabona started working at FSSS back in 2011. He revealed that when he came in, those were difficult times when no one wanted to be associated with the school, parents included. Slowly, partners came on board,
Tabona said with visible involvement of the school’s PTA, as well as the region umbrella PTA, they managed to turn the results around in last year’s BGCSE results.
He disclosed that the PTA managed to convince parents to take part in their children’s education.
The school’s head said of the high performers, they managed to produce three students passing with 41 points, three with 42 points, one with 44 points, one with 46 points and two with 47 points.
“We have registered 12 students in Form Four who passed with Grade A with about 33 students who have passed with Grade B and 304 students who passed with Grade C. We have another group of 370 students with Grade D whom we have to join hands in making sure that they produce better results,” he said.
FSSS excelled in subjects like Agriculture, Physical Education, Home Economics, Additional Maths, Business and Accounting.
Tabona said that parents’ involvement in students learning is vital, as teachers alone could not win the battle of obtaining good marks.
He encouraged parents to familiarise themselves with the school and teachers in building a strong relationship towards the achievement of good results.
The head teacher told the parents that the Saturday studies had been suspended following the disagreement teachers had with the employer, and it was up to the parents to take over at home.
“The Saturday study was helpful. Please hire tutors for your children to help them on weekends. This system has proven to be helpful to those who have used it before,” he said.
Tabona said that they managed to change the behaviour of students by instilling discipline and punishing those who misbehaved, and it changed the attitude even towards their schoolwork.
PTA Umbrella Chairperson for North East District, Sam Magama, echoed Tabona’s sentiments encouraging parents to fully participate in their children’s education.
Magama disclosed that the umbrella PTA was committed to mediating between teachers and parents in making sure that schools in the region produce good results.
He suggested that they introduce Dikgotla in their schools where as parents can seat down with children and mould their behaviour.
“With the declining family structure in our society today there is a need for a responsible PTA that will groom learners as responsible individuals,” said Magama. Parents who attended the meeting in high numbers pledged to volunteer in the school and help students where possible with their studies.