Klerksdorp – The MEC for Education in the North West Province, Ms Ntsetsao Viola Motsumi, has set aside the week of 05 to 08 May 2026 to engage principals of underperforming schools across the province.
Dr Kenneth Kaunda District was the first district to host the engagement on Monday, 05 May 2026, at Keurhof Special School. The session was attended by school principals, circuit managers, SGB members, subject advisors and district management.
Monitoring and Quality Results
In her opening remarks, MEC Motsumi emphasised that the mandate of the North West Department of Education is to deliver quality results throughout the province.
“To deliver quality results, regular monitoring and assessment of school performance is key,” MEC Motsumi said.
She noted that while Dr Kenneth Kaunda District performed very well in 2025, it remains important to track and compare school performance each quarter. “Today we are looking at Quarter 1 performance in 2026 compared to the same quarter in 2025.”
Closing Gaps and Targeted Interventions
In 2025, the Department managed to close the performance gap between Quintile 1-3 and Quintile 4-5 schools. MEC Motsumi said quarterly performance reviews help the Department provide necessary support and interventions.
“We must together come up with stringent interventions and provide solutions to the problems we are encountering as a sector.”
Learner Attendance and Parental Involvement
The MEC stressed that learners are not expected to bunk classes or be regularly absent from school. Schools must ensure that learners are accompanied by parents to collect reports and that parents are taken through subject-specific performance challenges.
“Monitoring performance through one-on-one engagements with learners is solution-oriented and can easily yield improvement in producing quality results,” she said.
Quarter 1 of 2026 Performance Overview
Underperforming schools that performed below the provincial target of 95% were advised to analyse results, implement stringent interventions on identified barriers, and benchmark with performing schools in their area or cluster.
– Only 9 schools performed below 70% in Term 1 of 2026.
– Schools that achieved 70% to 89% were classified as underperforming for failing to reach the 95% provincial target.
– Key subjects contributing to underperformance: Geography, Mathematical Literacy, Mathematics, and Life Sciences.
Call to Action
MEC Motsumi made a clarion call for schools to convene parents’ meetings quarterly to discuss subject-specific results.
“Most of the schools that performed low in Term 1 of 2025 have improved in the same term in 2026. We are working together in bringing the necessary interventions to our schools and working together we can do more,” she concluded.
Teacher Support and Home Language
The MEC stated that teachers should be consistently supported with more resources and necessary training where it matters most.
The issue of Home Language was highlighted as a factor that contributed negatively to the provincial pass rate in 2025, when a sizeable number of learners from Dr Kenneth Kaunda District failed Home Language. “Home Language should be prioritised at all times and we should score a 100% pass rate,” MEC Motsumi said.
Use of Digital Resources
Schools were further encouraged to utilise Virtual Classes, Dial-a-Tutor, Radio Lessons, the Siyavula Online App, and electronic print materials to support teachers and learners in strengthening school performance.
