30 Jul 2017

Ministry of Basic Education does not have sufficient houses to offer  to all staff, says minister Dr Unity Dow.

She noted that some teachers were sharing and had not been offered any house and were forced to rent privately. Dr Dow, however, said the ministry was not aware that shortage of suitable accommodation for renting in Gaborone had compelled some teachers to stay in Kanye.

“It may be that some teachers choose to stay with partners and commute as Kanye is 85km from Gaborone and within a commutable distance,” she said.

She added that the ministry continued to increase provision of housing for staff, and that they had  procured an additional 24 houses in Gaborone. In 2016, she said they completed the construction and handed over an additional 72 houses for Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School to relieve housing in Block 7 for Gaborone staff.

“We are currently constructing an additional 72 houses for the same purpose and these will free up the remaining houses in Block 7 for Gaborone teachers in 2019,” said Ms Dow.

Gaborone Central MP, Dr Phenyo Butale had said some teachers at Boikhutso, Notwane and Camp primary schools as well as Maoka Junior Secondary School commuted from as far as Kanye due to shortage of accommodation. She also wanted to know what the ministry was doing to address the issue.ENDS