07 Dec 2016

Shortage of accommodation has resulted in teachers having to rent houses at amounts higher than what they could be paying for.

Senior district officer development, Ms Nobuhle Mbusi said this when presenting Sub-district Development Committee report to Boteti Sub-council.

Ms Mbusi stated that there were 424 teachers against 339 teachers’ quarters meant to accommodate teachers in the sub-district.

She stated that this could have an impact in quality staff perceiving the area to be unfavourable to work in considering the poor accommodation availability status.

The department’s economic planning would continue to seek for assistance from companies and other entities to curb the situation.

Further, Ms Mbusi indicated that there was also a concern for highly populated schools that were experiencing an acute shortage of classrooms.

The schools she said had classes being taught outdoor and that she stated was a great concern especially in anticipation of the poor summer climate conditions such as heavy rainfalls.

That she said could adversely affect the teaching and learning processes.

In mitigating the challenges of shortage of classrooms the department would continue advocating for implementation of backlog eradication projects with stabilization of economy as well as seeking for assistance from companies and other entities to curb the situation.

Ms Mbusi said Supang Primary School has been included as a priority for backlog eradication and remain hopeful that completion of it under Economic Stimulus Programme would address shortage of accommodation.

She also stated that construction of 22 Orapa Junior Secondary School staff houses  was not yet awarded noting that all bidders failed at compliance stage, and tenders were recommended for retender.

Ms Mbusi further stated that there was a slight decline on development projects in the sub-district especially when it comes to implementation part due to delays or slow progress by some contractors, as much as shortage of manpower such as bricklayers and shortage of water.

Transport she said has also been proved to be a challenge for most of the departments and lack of commitment of some of beneficiaries especially for Poverty Eradication Programme and Youth programme, citing non repayment of loans.

The sub-district she said continued to urge sub-district technical committee to intensify project management to improve timely delivery of projects.

District leadership continued intensifying counseling client and family on the importance of projects through joint kgotla meetings and site visits.

Ms Mbusi said the district leadership has urged all heads of departments to desist from operating in silos in terms of transport and government resources sharing as much as contractors that did not adhere to the contract had been notified for slow progress.

She said they were also cautioned on being black listed in order to avoid cost over runs and delays of service to the community.

When commenting, councillor Koketso Seloi of Orapa expressed concern that 22 Orapa teachers houses have been retendered for noting he was doubtful the project would materialise due to delays. ENDS