26 Jun 2013

North West District councillors have commended the Ministry of Education and Skills Development for making dilapidated schools more habitable.

The council chairperson, Mr Lathang Molonda said the ministry had secured P1 900 000 to renovate nine classrooms across the Ngamiland region noting that statistics showed that shortage of classrooms stood at 84 and 50 for primary and secondary schools respectively while 86 houses were needed to have all teachers accommodated.

Mr Molonda also noted that in trying to address the issue of classroom shortage, the ministry had resorted to turning out-door teaching spaces to classrooms, adding that 35 houses had been bought from Botswana Housing Corporation for teachers.

He also pointed out that booster pumps were installed at Andrew Wellio Primary School to assist in water supply. “I trust that the ministry will continue to come up with remedies to promote a conducive learning and living environment,” he said.

Mr Molonda further said the high number of student drop-outs was causing concern, saying in most cases, they were caused by lack of parental care, deserting from the hostels and pregnancy.

The chairperson noted that efforts had been made to re-admit those affected and urged parents to be proactive in the education of their children.

Mr Molonda said since the introduction of the Back to School initiative, the region had received 1 235 applications and only 551 were contacted and admitted to various learning institutions. He said one of the challenges the region faced was that some applicants could not be reached mainly due to wrong contacts numbers while some applicants were physically not well enough to engage in studies.

Mr Molonda also expressed satisfaction regarding the Adopt –A –School initiative noting that a number of companies and individuals had already come on board to answer the ministry’s plea. He noted that the Southern African Regional Environmental Program (SAREP) had made a commitment to assist Popagano and Okavango Junior Secondary Schools and to date they have rehabilitated toilets in both schools at a cost of P350 000.

In addition he revealed that the Okavango Research Institute had adopted Matlapana Primary School. Another company by the name Fenline Fields Okavango would be transporting students to their schools whereas Mababe Community Trust has pledged to construct classrooms for pre-school and buy toiletry and uniforms for Kgosietsile Primary School. ENDS