21 Mar 2016

Assistant Minister of  Education and Skills Development, Mr Fedelis Molao has encouraged Okavango sub district non-teaching staff to work in collaboration with teachers to produce positive results.

Mr Molao, who was addressing non-teaching staff in Shakawe recently, advised them to always take in cognizance that their work was equally important as their teaching counterparts as they were involved in the moulding of the future of the students’ lives.

“As you voice your grievances you should  also consider the future of the learners and avoid laxity in your work,” emphasised Mr Molao who also encouraged the non-teaching staff to discuss their challenges bearing in mind that the bigger picture was shaping leaners lives.

Mr Molao said as the ministry they have realised that when they discussed education matters they need to take on board support staff as they were  also actively involved in the whole operation of the school.

He was worried that the region’s results were not satisfactory but advised the staff that it was incumbent upon all stakeholders to work together harmoniously to improve results.

Mr Molao said the education ministry was faced with problems of shortage of finances. He said the ministry was vast and has a lot of staff complement.

“Most of our re-current budget goes to salaries, something that puts pressure on other demands that the ministry need to meet such as buying of equipment, education materials and food amongst others,” observed the minister.

He appreciated that schools were also facing a problem of funds to operate effectively. 

Mr Molao told the gathering that the money that his ministry was allocated in the ending financial year was the same as that of the next financial year, but assured the schools that Parliament approved P60million supplement budget even though the ministry had requested for P136 million.

On other issues, Mr Molao said they were in the process of rationalising brigades to mitigate the problem of the already stretched resources. The initiative, he said, would enable brigades to specialise in certain courses.

Through the economic stimulus programme, the minister said they would build classes and accommodation for schools.

Although it was not enough, Mr Molao said all schools in the country would benefit starting from those that were in faraway places. However, the non-teaching staff complained about lack of promotion and creation of new posts for them.

Mr Gothatamang Monyambango of Shakawe Senior Secondary School said some of his colleagues were working in three months contracts since 2013 and it was important to create permanent post for the people.

He said the three months contract disadvantage them to be accorded benefits such as gratuity, pension, maternity leave and financial assistance amongst others.

Mr Moyambango said it was disheartening that some staff were working without protective clothing, something that puts their lives in danger. 

He also called for dirty allowance for cleaners, grounds men and labourers citing that the allowance was there in other ministries.

He decried the lack of food and academic equipment at Shakawe senior, something that he said may negatively affect the learning of students.

Mr Bame Molaodi of Etsha 6 Junior Secondary School advised that schools should be allocated funds according to their size, those with more students and staff given more funds. Mr Moruti Mohokha of Beetsha Junior Secondary School called on the ministry to train no-teaching staff as most of them do not have qualifications.

For his part, education regional director-North West, Mr Oupa Masesane admitted that delta schools have many challenges. “We have decided to give them positive discrimination by always allocating them resources,” he said.

He also said he was aware that schools were experiencing shortage of furniture due to lack of funds. Ends