15 Feb 2013

The process of recruiting specialised teachers proves to be most challenging as there is shortage of teachers, says the Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Patrick Masimolole.

Responding to a parliamentary question on Wednesday, Mr Masimolole said affected subjects included physics, computers and business studies.

He said the ministry was aware that laboratories were used as base-rooms /classrooms due to the decision that was taken some time ago in response to pressure to increase access education and the need to increase enrolments.

Mr Masimolole noted that the allocation of number of streams per school was determined by all the classrooms available including the specialised laboratories. "The decision to have the purpose built rooms used for other activities should not have been acceded to as it does compromise the quality of education," he said.

“However, to improve the quality of education, the situation should be changed and this will only be achieved in the long-term especially given the present economic downturn”, he added.

About the teaching staff, he said, it was in line with the establishment register, which had taken care of any changes which had since been effected.

Currently, he said, the school had two vacant positions of physics, one senior teacher grade one (computer studies) and one head of department, noting that the vacancy for the head of department would be filled before end of February 2013.

Regarding the size of the kitchen, Mr Masimolole said it was adequate for the streams adding that MoESD in consultation with the Ministry of Infrastructure Science and Technology  was in the process of re-writing the old pots to improve the kitchen situation,”

The assistant minister said he was aware that Shoshong Senior Secondary School was a 36 stream school with a student population of plus or minus 1 440.

MP for Shoshong, Mr Phillip Makgalemele had asked the Minister of Education and Skills Development to state the stream in which Shoshong Senior Secondary School fell, given how the school evolved since it was opened against the current student population.

The minister was also to state whether resources in terms of laboratories, teaching staff, head of departments and size of the kitchen reconcile with the establishment register of the stream as confirmed.

He also wanted to know whether the minister is aware that most laboratories at the school are used as classrooms, thus negatively affecting the teaching methods for subjects requiring laboratory facilities and also state time interventions she will make to remedy this disturbing situation. ENDS