23 Jul 2017

North West District Council has completed all the 2016/17 primary schools backlog eradication projects through the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP).

Councillors were informed during a recent council meeting that projects at Etsha 6 and Nxau Nxau Primary School were complete and under the defects liability period. 

Council chairperson, Mr Duncan Enga also informed councillors that the best bidders of the backlog eradication facilities through ESP had been done and cleared with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD). 

The project memorandum, he said, was approved last month and that award letters would be written to the best bidders so as to start implementation. 

He also said a proposal had been made to the MLGRD that some components from the backlog eradication projects under ESP for 2017/18 financial year that were to be implemented at Chanoga and Tawana primary schools be diverted with the same costs to Disaneng and Mogolokwane primary schools at Phuduhudu. 

He said the reason was that there would be over supply in Chanoga and Tawana primary schools.

Councillors were also informed that the construction of two classroom blocks for Chanoga Primary School would be built at Disaneng Primary School as it has a shortfall of 11 classrooms while Chanoga has eight streams and eight classes with no pupils being taught outside. 

Mr Enga said Tawana Primary School has 21 classrooms with a shortfall of one class as per the 1994 Revised National Policy on Education, adding that the excess class would be used for reception class. 

He said from the four cubicle toilets to be built at Tawana Primary School, one cubicle toilet would be built at Disaneng Primary School as it has a shortage of toilets.

Mr Enga also said from the three teacher’s houses to be built at Chanoga Primary School, one teacher’s house would be built at Mogolokwane Primary School as it has a shortfall of three teacher’s houses, while Chanoga has a shortfall of two houses.

Councillors were also informed that the expansion of junior secondary schools through ESP at Tshwaragano, Maitlamo, Tsodilo and Etsha junior secondary schools were still ongoing and behind schedule.

Councillor Morafemong Matsimanyane of Bodibeng/Bothatogo wanted to know why consideration was not made for the provision of additional classrooms at Bodibeng Primary School through the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP).

However, he was informed that the school was not part of the backlog eradication projects to be carried through ESP. 

He was also informed that the school would be catered for under the normal backlog eradication after ESP has been completed.

Councillor Botshelo Mapa of Sepopa/Ikoga asked why there were no ESP projects taking place in Okavango, adding that they had observed that more projects were scheduled for Maun Administration Authority.

He was told that there were some projects earmarked for Okavango such as the expansion of Etsha and Okavango junior secondary schools which were ongoing.

Other projects undertaken under ESP in the Okavango area, he was informed, included the construction of customary courts at Samochima and Etsha I which were near completion. ENDS