15 Jun 2016

Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Fidelis Molao, has called on construction companies undertaking Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) projects in schools to protect the girl child.

Mr Molao made the appeal at the launch of ESP projects for his ministry in Chadibe and Marapong on Tuesday. 

The assistant minister said students were faced with social challenges and it was upon the community to protect them and guide them into realising their future dreams.

He therefore urged men on site not to take advantage of their area of operation since there would be young girls around the facilities.

The assistant minister said the project was going to include construction of 24 teachers quarters at Tlhalogang JSS, maintenance of old houses, classrooms and ablution blocks and construction of 20 houses at John Nswazwi JSS. 

He further noted that from the P50 million budget for the projects, P13 million would be for maintenance and any other works at Tlhalogang. 

He highlighted that his ministry in this financial year had 47 projects across the country which included 17 maintenance works, 12 mechanical, nine electrical and another nine for building works to be completed by the end of the financial year. 

And the ministry set aside a total of over P700 million for all these projects adding that already a total of over P110 million had been disbursed for construction companies’ mobilisation fee which is calculated as 15 per cent of the total budget.

Furthermore, he noted that expectation is for these phase one projects under the ministry a total of 1188 Batswana will be employed at different places with 140 employed for the Tlhalogang/John Nswazwi projects.

Appreciating the projects, Kgosi Bakani Mampori of Marapong said they are grateful that their school has benefitted from the ESP and construction of the 20 houses will add to the 16 which the teaching staff has been sharing hence reducing accommodation crisis at the school. 

He nonetheless appealed to the construction company to employ their youth before considering others from other places. 

He noted that in that way they will also have helped eradicate poverty in their communities. ENDS