06 Apr 2017

There is a critical shortage of textbooks in primary schools in the Boteti East constituency, says the Minister of Basic Education, Dr Unity Dow.

Dr Dow said the schools mostly affected were Seasole, Letlhakane, Retlhatloleng, Mokubilo and Mokane primary schools, partly due to their increased enrolments.

Minister Dow said she was not aware that books were ordered three to five years ago but not delivered.

“Textbooks ordered in 2015 were received by the schools in 2016,” she said, adding that “it is not true that Khwee Primary School has been without textbooks since 2015 as it was supplied with some books in 2016, but remains far short of its requirements,” Dr Dow said.

Furthermore, she said her ministry has been allocated P107 300 000 for the procurement of textbooks of which P76 800 000 was allocated for primary schools.

The minister said the delivery of books was currently ongoing in the schools, including the Boteti East constituency schools, adding that so far 2 546 textbooks have been delivered in Boteti East schools against the 5 798 ordered.

The Member of Parliament for Boteti East, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe had requested the minister to state if it was true that there was a critical shortage of textbooks in all primary schools in Boteti East and which schools were affected.

MP Lelatisitswe also asked if it was true that schools made orders three to five years back but still have not received books,  and whether it was true that Standard 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 classes in Khwee Primary Schools had been without textbooks since 2015.

In addition, he also wanted to know how much was the budget reserved for textbooks in the financial year 2017/2018, and when the textbooks would be delivered in Boteti East. ENDS