11 Mar 2015

Ikageng Junior Secondary School hall is housing three classes while the other two classes are taught in the open space.

Answering a question in Parliament, Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Moiseraela Goya said just like in other schools, owing to a shortage of teaching space, Ikageng had resorted to using some structures initially not designed for teaching and learning as class base rooms.

To address the situation, he said, his ministry was in the process of procuring prefabricated structures to be used as classrooms, adding the exercise was expected to commence in the first quarter of 2015/2016 financial year.

Furthermore, he said funds permitting the ministry will ultimately construct additional classrooms to alleviate the situation at all oversubscribed schools. He said his ministry is aware of a general country wide challenge of accommodation for teachers and Ikageng Junior Secondary School is no exception.

“The ministry continues to construct and purchase houses to accommodate teachers within school premises and outside the schools, construction of houses for teachers was being carried out in phases and currently Phase 1 is approaching completion “he said 

Mr Goya said Phase 1 is intended to accommodate at least 500 teachers in Junior Secondary Schools countrywide.

Gabane/Mankgodi MP, Major General Pius Mokgware had wanted the minister to state if he was aware that Ikageng Junior Secondary School hall in Metsimotlhabe, houses at least five classes, and if there are any immediate interventions to rectify the anomaly.

He also asked the minister if he is also aware of the shortage of accommodation for teachers at the school to the extent that some reside in Gaborone. ENDS