01 Mar 2017

Minister of Basic Education, Dr Unity Dow says she is not aware of deplorable conditions at Donga Junior Secondary School in Francistown.

Answering a question in Parliament on February 28,  Dr Dow said the school was designed and operated as an 18-stream school with a provision of 12 standard classrooms.

She indicated that there were no students being taught in open spaces or under trees.

“All lessons are conducted in classrooms, specialist rooms or outdoor teaching areas,” she said.

Dr Dow further noted that the only time the school hall is being utilised was for class registration in the mornings and when it was raining.

“Specialist rooms for Science and Home Economics are not being used as base rooms for registration to avoid unnecessary vandalism and six classes converge at the hall for morning registration,” she stated.

Minister Dow said currently, there were no plans to expand the school, as the ministry had recently constructed a new school in Gerald Estate, which would ease pressure on Donga.

She said despite the shortage of classrooms, the school established a culture of good performance as reflected by its Junior Certificate Education results and high transition rate to senior secondary.

MP for Francistown East, Mr Buti Billy had asked the minister if she was aware of the deplorable conditions that students at Donga Junior Secondary School in Francistown were exposed to.

MP Billy said students at Donga School were being taught in open spaces, under trees and that close to five classes used the school hall all at the same time as classrooms.

The MP also wanted to know what measures were in place to remedy the situation, as the ministry could not expect teachers to produce good results from such conditions. ENDS