11 Mar 2025

The Assistant Minister of Higher Education, Mr Justin Hunyepa has told Parliament that his ministry proposed the expansion of Kopong Junior Secondary School under the secondary schools expansion projects of National Development Plan 11, but it was not done due to budgetary constraints.

Due to the critical need to expand the size of the school, he said the ministry would prioritise the school during NDP 12, adding that the ministry was aware that the net enrolment for Kopong Junior Secondary School was 931, which exceeded the available instructional space.

“Regarding access and equity, the ministry will include, among other things, water and sanitation infrastructure, modify some pit latrines, and upgrade portable and sewage reticulation inside the school.”

Mr Hunyepa said the ministry would consider, through expansion projects for secondary schools, the construction of additional staff houses, upgrading of toilet facilities, an administration block, hostels, and all academic facilities.

Lentsweletau MP, Mr Tshenolo Bogatsu had asked the minister whether the ministry would consider upgrading Kopong Junior Secondary School to a 24-stream school, as it was currently an 18-stream school with the infrastructure of a nine-stream school and a small staff room. 

He also asked if the ministry was aware of the current total student capacity and whether it was still feasible for the ever-increasing number of students to use pit latrines, and whether building more staff houses at the school, given that there are 29 staff houses and 84 teachers, would be considered. ENDS