The Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, Hon. Basetsana R.S Dantjie conducted oversight visits at Rethusegile and Ikelletso Secondary and Ruskraal Primary Schools

The Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, Hon. Basetsana R.S Dantjie conducted oversight visits at Rethusegile and Ikelletso Secondary and Ruskraal Primary Schools in Lethabong near Rustenburg to check and assess the schools’ readiness for the 2024 school year.

Hon. Dantjie began the visits at Rethusegile Secondary School where she motivated the learners at the morning assembly to focus on their studies and ensure that they acquire good results at the end of the school year. “We should not only motivate the matriculants but all the Grades within the school because they are also important on contributing towards the success of the school. We also need to have learners that are well mannered and respectful to their teachers, parents and community.

As there is a high increase on gender-based violence and drug abuse within the community, I further encourage everyone including our male learners to be vigilant of those external forces that will make you lose focus on your important journey and we urge you to protect your female compatriots who are at the risk of abuse and harassment,” said Hon. Dantjie.

Amongst challenges found at the three (3) schools was overcrowding due to increasing number of learners; water connection where the schools’ drainage systems are not connected to the municipal sewage system; shortage of furniture which include chairs, tables and desks and vacant teacher positions.

The Principal at Rethusegile Secondary School, Mr. Isaac Modillane said there is a vacant position for Grade 8-12 classrooms teacher for Accounting, Economics and Business studies. “We have submitted a request to the department for advertisement and other processes and hope that it will be done in due course. The school opening process has been smooth due to the support of the department including the school governing body and other stakeholders,” said Mr. Modillane.

The Principal of Ruskraal Primary School, Mr. Malefo Diale informed the Legislature that except the absence of three teachers due to ill-health and other factors, the school opening has been smooth without major challenges. “We anticipate that we will surpass the 1300 learner enrolment due to increasing learner roll as some learners have not returned to school from holidays. The school management usually submits quarterly requests to the department for issues such as broken fence, leaking of pipes/roof; cracked or falling walls,” said Mr. Diale.

The Principal of Ikelletso Secondary School, Mr. Maitsapo Zebedias said cyberbullying, drug abuse and learners who commit house robberies have been a problem within the school. “We have asked the intervention of the department and the school governing body,” said Mr. Zebedias.

Hon. Dantjie said as part of combating socials ills within the schools and the community, the Legislature will redirect the Legislature Stakeholder Programme to the community where motivational speakers will be called to engage the learners and the schools. “We will intervene through this important programme that has shown success in other districts. We also want to target the school governing bodies and everyone within the education system in Lethabong because there is a general problem of drug and substance abuse, bullying and ill-discipline in these schools,” said Hon. Dantjie.

She said the Legislature will also engage the department on resolving the vacancy of teachers and infrastructure challenges within the three schools.

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