13 Dec 2016

Sixty seven children with disabilities are under the care of Molepolole Administration Authority.

Answering a question in Parliament, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso, said the children  were also assisted with transportation to and from Bonewamang Primary School.

She said Molepolole Administration Authority had a 22-seater bus used to collect the children, adding that because the children were picked from areas far apart such as Mmanoko, Mantsho, Molepolole and Ratoboro, the bus had to make up to three trips in the morning and afternoon.

“During this time it is regrettable that there are instances where a child spends more than two hours, either waiting for the bus by the road side or sitting in the bus,” she said.

Ms Tshireletso said in order to reduce the duration of the bus journey during summer periods, an arrangement was made with parents to accompany the children to the nearest stop.

During winter, she said children were collected from their homes as it would be unsafe for them to wait at a bus stop.

She said despite the challenges, she did not agree that there was any child that spent more time in the bus compared to five hours of teaching time at school.

Ms Tshireletso,further told Parliament that she was not aware of children who walked back home after waiting for the bus in vain, more especially when there was a break down, given that whenever there was a breakdown, the council used an alternative bus.

Molepolole South, Member of Parliament Dr Tlamelo Mmatli had asked  Minister of Local Government and Rural Development if he was aware that children living with disabilities at Bonewamang Primary School often spent more time either waiting for their bus by the roadside or sitting in the bus than in class and  on many occasions they have had to walk back home after waiting for their bus in vain and if so, the MP asked the minister if there were any plans to address the situation. ENDS