MINISTER of Education and Training Ntlhoi Motsamai has called for cooperation from parents, primary and secondary school teachers in ensuring a successful transition of primary school leavers into Grade Eight at secondary schools.

The minister made the plea on Monday during a media briefing where she said due to hiccups caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, all public schools are bound by the Education Act 2010 to align themselves with guidelines set by the ministry.

Ms Motsamai said the guidelines include the terms of admission of learners which all public secondary schools have to abide by.
The ministry, she said has already issued transition forms (Form E80A/2020 which parents will fill to apply for admission of their children in schools that are close to their respective homes.

Such forms, she said have to be collected from the ministry by primary school principals from January 5, 2021.
The forms are expected to be returned to the primary schools at which the learners are currently studying so that the schools can forward them to first choice schools before January 11, 2021 as long as they are in the same region as the applicant's village.

Ms Motsamai said if the number of applications exceeds the capacity of the secondary school, the transition forms will be returned to the district education office which will send them to next schools that appear on the form.

She said in a case where parents choose schools that are far from home, such parents will bear the responsibility of sending the application forms as well as securing admission for their children at schools of choice.

She therefore appealed to secondary schools to give first preference to children from their neighbourhoods, adding that schools with accommodation facilities should give first preference to learners with disabilities, vulnerable children and those who stay in areas where there are no schools.
“Forms for learners who have not been accepted in first preference schools, have to be taken to education offices before January 15, 2021, when principals of secondary schools will meet to make additions on their lists,” she also said.

Secondary schools, she showed are expected to place admission lists in schools and district education offices for easy access by parents and children.

She said parents should make follow-ups on the applications in order to establish whether or not their children have been admitted.