20 Jun 2017

Gaborone City Council mayor, Mr Kagiso Thutlwe has raised a concern over the rising number of illegal educational institutions in the city.

Speaking during a full council session on Monday, Mr Thutlwe said there were day care centres that operated illegally with untrained teachers, including provision of overnight sleepover services.

Mayor Thutlwe urged parents to take responsibility and ensure that they enrolled their children with registered and licensed institutions.

He stated that the Education Act CAP. 58.01 Section 14 states that “no person shall own a school or give regular instructions at a school unless the school is registered”.

He said such persons who contravened any provision of subsection shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding P500

Mayor Thutlwe pleaded with Gaborone residents to properly register their schools. He however criticised government for allowing children to attend unaccredited institutions.

He said the city council continued to experience over subscription in some primary schools, a situation which has resulted in challenges such as shortage of classroom space and shortage of teachers’ accommodation.

However, he urged the schools to admit only the recommended number of pupils, which is 880 per school.

He also called on parents to understand the implications of over subscriptions saying they should consider the health of their children.

On other issues, Mayor Thutlwe pleaded with the Gaborone community to stop illegal advertising as it could no longer be condoned. He advised people to seek permission from the city council before placing advertising signs or boards anywhere in the city.

He noted that those found breaking the law would have action taken against them, adding that advertising was also a source of revenue for council.

He stated that income generating sources such as rates, market rental fees, parking fees, SHHA service levy were not performing well as Council had been lenient on defaulters.BOPA