news

Feb. 23, 2021

STAFF REPORTER

4 min read

Minister finally launches JC final exams

Minister finally launches JC final exams

The Minister of Education and Training Ntlhoi Motsamai

Metro Audio Articles

Catch our weekly audio news daily only on Metro Radio Podcast News.

listen now

THE decision to let learners write their long awaited Junior Certificate final examinations was not easy to make owing to the prevailing situation precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minister of Education and Training, Ntlhoi Motsamai has said.

She was speaking at the official launch of the 2020 JC final examinations which was held at the Lesia High School, in Maseru on Monday.
Addressing the learners, Ms Motsamai who was flanked by among others the Examinations Council of Lesotho (ECOL) Chief Executive Officer, Mokhitli Khoabane said she personally wanted to ensure that the learners were ready to write.

“I am happy to realise that you are well, healthy and ready to write your examinations. The day that we waited so long for has finally arrived,” she said, also wishing all JC learners from across the country good luck in the exams.

She urged them to abide by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health safety protocols by always wearing their masks, keeping physical distancing and regularly washing their hands wash with running water and soap or using hand sanitizers.

“I could not be at all the schools at the same time, so I decided to visit Lesia High School in order to officially launch the 2020 JC final examinations. I wish all learners countrywide well in their examinations.
“It was not an easy decision to let the exams go ahead this year after being postponed last year due to the COVID-19 outbreak,” she reiterated.
Mr Khoabane, who shared similar sentiments with the minister about the delayed examinations, said Ms Motsamai’s visit at Lesia High School was merely to ensure that the examinations went ahead as planned.
“She also wanted to ensure that all the relevant materials were available in order for the learners to write their examinations and that they went ahead without any hiccups,” he said.

When the examinations were postponed last year, he said the question papers had already been printed, adding that the main challenge was that they could have been either stolen or leaked prior to the examinations dates.
He was, however quick to add that there are no reports of any leakage as the papers were kept in a safe place where security was tight at all times.

“It has not been easy at all to prepare for these examinations under the prevailing COVID-19 conditions and thanks God that they are finally taking off,” Mr Khoabane said.

The Principal of Lesia High School Mathafeng Moteoli said initially, they had registered a total of 229 learners to sit for the exams, adding however that 16 of them did not return to school.

Enjoy our daily newsletter from today

Access exclusive newsletters, along with previews of new media releases.

“The reason is that Lesia High School enrolls learners from all over the country and some of their parents were retrenched at the textile factories in Ha Thetsane due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he also noted.
After the parents lost their jobs, Mr Moteoli said some of the learners were forced to drop out of school.

He was however, hopeful that all the sitting learners across the country will perform to the best of their abilities, adding that both the teachers and the learners had to form WhatsApp groups in order to continue lessons through online.

“The major challenge we encountered was that some of the learners did not have smart phones, while others did not have either signal in their villages or data,” he said.
One of the learners interviewed is Moipone Putsoa, 18, who showed that despite all the disruptions encountered, she was ready for her exams owing to the assistance she got from her teachers and parents.

“I am confident that we are all going to pass although the classes were seriously disrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak,” she said.
The Minister and her delegation later proceeded to other schools including Thetsane High school, St Catherine’s, Sefika, Leqele and St Agnes where she also wished the learners well.

The examinations, which kicked off with a Sesotho paper end on March 31.

Share the story

METRO WEATHER FORECAST