04 Aug 2016

The Assistant Minister of  Education and Skills Development, Mr Fidelis Molao says there is acute shortage of office space at Mahalapye Education Centre.

Answering a Parliamentary question from the Memeber of Parliament (MP) for Mahalapye West, Mr Joseph Molefhe,  on Wednesday Mr Molao  said shortage of facilities has risen as a result of  decentralisation of ministry’s operations and the formation of Mahalapye Sub region which is currently accommodated in the centre.  

“As such my ministry does not have any plans to construct additional lecture rooms at the centre”, he said.

Mr Molao explained that the centre has two classrooms of which one is currently used for office space by the sub-regional office while the library was occupied by the Records Management Office. “My Ministry intends to properly house the sub-regional office in its own accommodation when resources are available and release the facilities at the education centre for their intended purpose”, he said.

Mr Molao acknowledged  the non-availability of a heavy duty photocopier at the centre, adding that Mahalapye was serviced by an industrial copier in Madiba Senior Secondary School, which is designed to support all schools in the area.

Furthermore, Mr Molao said  there are no plans to construct additional offices due to limited funds and  stated that the ministry’s  priorities lie with school expansion, maintenance and staff housing.

Mr Molao also acknowledged that the centre does not have a 4X4 vehicle to access sandy areas.

He said his Ministry was expecting delivery of new vehicles of which some are designed for off-road use, adding that the centre shall be given consideration along with other institutions also in need.

“In the meantime officers are encouraged to pool off road vehicles from the Central Transport Organisation(CTO) or swap vehicles with other government departments”, he said.

Mr Molefe wanted to know whether there were any plans  to construct additional lecture rooms since there was only one in the centre, which was not adequate for teacher-in-service training of the region.

He also wanted to know what was planned to provide the centre with a library and a heavy duty photocopier as staff depended on assistance from other departments. ENDS