By Kefiloe Kajane
The ministry of education and training’s chief education officer – curriculum and assessment – ‘Mabakubung Seutloali says the ministry has resolved that all internal primary and high school students be promoted to the next grade in 2021.
Seutloali told theReporter today that an assessment system has been formulated, that will be enforced before the students are promoted, in preparation for implementing integrated curricula.
This, after normal schooling was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and schools closed down in March this year. Only external students (grades 10 and 12) went back to school in October after the seven month lay-off, followed shortly by grade 11’s.
Meanwhile, many learners did not report to school today after the minister of education cleared grade 8 and 9 students to reopen.
Parents accused the minister of not giving them enough time to prepare to send their children back to school, as the announcement was only made on Saturday, two days before the reopening date.
In a statement issued today, basic education principal secretary Dira Khama, said this is pursuant to the Lesotho Government Gazette, Legal Notice of Public Health (Covid-19) (Risk Determination and Mitigation Measures) (No.4) Regulations, 2020.
Dira said the ministry therefore embarked on a cautious strategy of re-opening school in phases.
“This approach is informed by the lessons learned from the countries in the region and the Lesotho external classes that reopened earlier this year. The re-opening of Grade 8 and 9 is meant to prepare learners, parents, teachers and all key stakeholders for the next academic year.
“The re-opening schools are reminded and strongly advised to strictly comply with ministry of education and training and ministry of health COVID-19 Guidelines. All other learners in the internal classes should safely stay at their homes until an official announcement for them to re-open is made.”
