17 Dec 2024

Gaborone South legislator and Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Nelson Ramaotwana has requested government to consider engaging on full-time basis, temporary teachers in schools that experience shortage of teachers.

“This will go a long way in assisting to reduce the high-teacher student ratio, which currently stands around 1:45,” said Mr Ramaotwana when contributing to the State-of-the-Nation Address on Monday.

Mr Ramaotwana said reducing the proportion would help improve the quality of education as there would be more interaction between teachers and pupils.

He also implored government to address lack of promotion of teachers, saying some had been on the one scale for about 27 years.

“Spending this much time on one scale will obviously demoralise them, which will directly affect the quality of education,” he said.

On other issues, Mr Ramaotwana applauded government for what he said was heeding of minority groups voices.

“Such tribes as Basarwa have been denied their rights for far too long, and that is despite the country having ratified various conventions that obliges it to grant them certain rights,” he said and added that the recent decision to allow Basarwa burial rights in their ancestral land was a positive and promising move by government.

Tswapong North MP, Mr Prince Maele spoke of the need to open up corridors in the area, to allow people access to the Limpopo River.

Mr Maele, who is also the Minister of Higher Education, said that his constituents’ access to the river was blocked by private farms lined along its banks.

“This means that people are not able to use waters from the river to irrigate, drink, fish and even water their livestock,” he said and pleaded with government to buy land at least just enough to open up corridors, a similar arrangement with what happened when government bought Tati land from private holders.

Mr Maele requested government to quickly review the Development Manager model as vital projects in the constituency were to be constructed under it, such as a primary school in Lecheng and a hospital in Lerala.

The state of affairs of most schools in the area, including Moeng College, need a redress, Mr Maele said.

He also requested the tarring of some road networks such as Majwaneng-Lerala, Lesenepole-Maunatlala as well as Palapye -Martins Drift, and further stated that the area lacked clinics, ambulances and mobile clinics at cattleposts.

Mr Maele enquired about the promised Lerala Sub-district and service centres in Maunatlala and Gootau, as well as water and electricity reticulation to new plots in most villages in the area.

Gaborone North legislator, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile on the other hand called for government to amend the laws that governed land administration.

He said that this was because current laws disadvantaged Gaborone North residents.

“These people sacrificed by buying themselves plots, but government still cannot meet them halfway by building proper roads and availing water in the area because it is freehold land,” he said.

He also said the nearby Kgaphamadi area was also in need of services as children walked about 10 km daily to school which exposed them to risks.

Mr Ntlhaile, who is the assistant Minister of Communications and Innovation decried the stench that enveloped areas such as Tsholofelo and Gen Valley BDF camp, which he said emanated from the nearby treatment plant.

“Government needs to find a solution to this challenge as soon as possible,” he said.

On national issues, Mr Ntlhaile requested government to consider reviewing the Botswana Speaks platform, saying that it was important as it ensured that people took an active part in the running of government. Ends