15 Aug 2016

Ministry of Education and Skills Development is not aware that there are children who are denied access to education for not having a birth certificate and the ministry has no intention to infringe any child’s rights.
Schools have also been advised to work with regional structures and that of local district commissioner’s office to assist parents and guardians.
Answering a question in Parliament on August 10, the Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Moiseraele Goya said it should not be a problem for parents to produce a sworn affidavit in cases where the production of a birth certificate was delayed or complicated by family circumstances.
He told Parliament that he was aware of the continued challenge with the availability of text books in Francistown Senior Secondary School which stands at 82.4 per cent.
“This figure is below 100 per cent due to shortage in one or two optional subjects such as Accounts and Additional Mathematics for which the enrolments are small,” he said.
Regarding furniture and food shortage, Mr Goya said he was not aware of any shortage in the school as no request for additional furniture had been received.
 However, he said he had instructed his officers to assess the situation at the school and provide as necessary.
He said funds for feeding at Francistown Senior Secondary School stands at P962 598.00 from the P1 915 240.00 they were given in April.
Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane had asked the minister if he was aware that there were children who were not able to access basic education due to lack of birth certificates, and if he did not consider that an infringement of their rights.
He also asked if the minister was aware of shortage of textbooks, furniture and food ration at Francistown Senior Secondary School and what the minister intends doing to remedy the situation. ENDS