13 Mar 2017

The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development says her ministry is aware of the shortage of furniture in some schools in the Ghanzi North constituency.

Answering a question in parliament on Thursday, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said that some primary schools in the Ghanzi North constituency have shortage of chairs and tables, particularly at Kabakae, Ghanzi and D’Kar primary schools.

“As at January 2017, out of a total enrolment of 4285 pupils, the constituency had a shortfall of 369 tables and 363 chairs. Kabakae Primary School had a shortage of 71 small chairs and 150 tables; Ghanzi Primary 100 chairs and 40 tables, while D’ Kar Primary had a shortage of 20 small tables and 20 chairs,” Ms Tshireletso said.

She added that a request for parents to assist with school chairs was made in January 2017 by Kabakae school administration not the ministry, as a temporary intervention while awaiting delivery from the council. 163 chairs have since been delivered to Kabakae Primary School on February 22, 2017, Ms Tshireletso said.

“A provisional budget for purchasing of chairs and tables for schools in the Ghanzi District has been made at P70 500 during the 2017/18 financial year.

As indicated, the incident in Ghanzi North was an isolated incident which came from the school authorities and parents, not my ministry,” Ms Tshireletso said.

This was a response to a question posed by the Ghanzi North Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Noah Salakae.

The legislator had asked the minister if she is aware that primary schools in the Ghanzi North constituency have no chairs and tables, with the hardest hit being Kabakae, Ghanzi and D’Kar primary schools, and that parents are being asked to assist.

MP Salakae further asked if the chairs and tables have been budgeted for under the current 2017/18 financial year, what is the proposed budget thereof, and whether all parents in Botswana are expected to assist or this only happens in his constituency. ENDS