18 Feb 2025

The oldest primary schools in Serowe were built between 1967 and 1975 to cater for school going population in a particular catchment area at that time.

Responding to a question in Parliament, the Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa said Newtown, Riverside, Central, Tshekedi, Khama Memorial and Masokola were built in 1967, while St Gabriel was built in 1969, Motetshwane and St Augustine in 1971 and 1975 respectively.

He said initially, classrooms were built to accommodate a limited number of learners since at the time, the population of Botswana was low.

He noted that during those times, pupils admitted were mostly less than 50 and catered from Standard 1 to 4 classes.

He, however, said over the years enrolment increased as more pupils were admitted and that currently, all the schools accommodated all streams of classes from Standard One to Seven, reception classes with the number of classrooms ranging from nine to 23.

 Giving a breakdown of classrooms in the mentioned schools, he said Central had nine classrooms with 13 streams and  one reception class, Khama had 10 classrooms, 14 streams and one reception class, Masokola 18 classrooms, 22 streams and two reception class, Simon Ratshosa 16 classrooms, one reception block with 22 streams and two reception classes.

Tshekedi primary has 23 classrooms, one reception block with 24 streams and two reception classes, Newtown primary has 22 classrooms with 28 streams and two reception classes, St Gabriel primary has 12 classrooms and two currently under construction with 14 streams, St Augustine has 13 classrooms and 16 streams, Riverside primary has 15 classrooms with 18 streams and 4 reception classes while Motetshwane primary has 24 classrooms with 19 streams, 4 special education classes and two reception classes.

Mr Motshegwa added that Simon Ratshosa Primary School initially operated with nine classrooms and over the years, eight more classrooms were constructed to accommodate the increasing enrolment.

The school now has 17 classrooms with one reception class constructed in 2022. He said Grace Kgari Primary School operated with 10 classrooms since its inception in 2003 and the last constructed classroom was for reception class in 2021.

Minister Motshegwa said from the mentioned schools, the ministry had approved construction of one by two classroom block at St Gabriel Primary School through the Constituency Community Programme (CCP) and the project was currently at 18 per cent completion.

He added that due to budgetary constraints, the ministry was unable to increase classrooms at once since expansion of classroom blocks was informed by the priority list of all the schools in the district.

The minister said priority was guided by enrolment against the available facilities and on an annual basis, provision was made for backlog eradication of facilities in schools including classrooms, toilets and staff houses.

Mr Motshegwa said in the current financial year 2024/2025, the Serowe District Council had prioritised maintenance of toilets in 10 primary schools, three of which were among the old schools under the discussion being Masokola, St Gabriel and Newtown primary schools.

He said the approved budget to undertake the maintenance works was P2 650 000 and the tender was still under evaluation.

In addition, one double classroom block was under construction at St Gabriel Primary School and the district had proposed inclusion of some new classroom blocks in the DDP9/NDP12.

Serowe South MP, Mr Leepetswe Lesedi had asked the Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs to state the oldest primary schools in Serowe and the years they were built.

Mr Lesedi also wanted to know the last time, classrooms were increased at Simon Ratshosa and Grace Kgari primary school as well as the ministry’s plan for expansion of classroom blocks in most old schools to cater for new demands as well as plans to renovate old primary schools in Serowe. ENDS