08 May 2016

A new and fifth Junior Secondary School, Maitlamo situated at Disana ward in Maun, has on May 4 opened its doors for students.

About 340 students are expected to resume classes at the new school which was constructed to the tune of P127 million. The school ground breaking was performed by Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi on August 22, 2014.

Maitlamo JSS form one students, who have been housed at Tsodilo and Sedia junior secondary schools since the beginning of the 2016 school calendar, started orientation and classes on May 4. 

Speaking at a Parents Teachers Association meeting held at the school on April 29, graced by Maun East Member of Parliament, Mr Kostantinos Markus and regional education officials, North West regional education director, Mr Aupa Masesane said government spent millions of pula to construct the school as an answer to the Disana people who had complained that their children schooled far.

Mr Masesane said Maitlamo JSS would also relieve the existing junior schools of congestion.

He encouraged parents to protect school facilities through grooming students to avoid vandalism.

On the other hand, Mr Masesane noted that both primary and secondary schools in the North West region performed dismally at position eight out of 10 regions whereas lack of facilities and stationery were some of the challenges that teachers attributed poor results to.

However, he expressed hope for good Junior Certificate results from Maitlamo upon completion of the first group.

“You must have set standards as parents and teachers in partnership for best results,” he said.

The school head, Mr Peter Mafokate said the school was supposed to have opened in February but that was postponed because the contractor, MPP Company, asked for extension citing delay due to heavy rains experienced between January and February.

Mr Mafokate noted that the first phase of the project which included staff room, two blocks of classroom, two blocks students’ ablutions, kitchen, dining hall, Science Lab, Art Lab, some staff houses, among others, was completed.

He however said the contractor was still on site doing final touches which he assured would not interfere with students’ learning.

Mr Mafokate said the student population was expected to increase from 340 over the years to 1200 from 2018. 

The school, he said would be a catchment area for Disana, Letsholathebe, Matlapana and Andrew Wellio primary schools.

He assured parents that Maitlamo school management planned to make the school a model of quality results and would reshape the secondary schools results in the region. ENDS