23 Oct 2017

Kumakwane Primary School in the Kweneng region is currently oversubscribed which has resulted in severe shortage of classrooms.

The school which was to cater for only 22 classrooms currently has 30 classrooms and the overflow classes are taught outside.

Kumakwane Primary School deputy head, Ms Nametsegang Kopelang said during the school prize giving ceremony on October 19 that there was need for another primary school to be built in Kumakwane.

She stated that the situation did not support conducive learning for students adding that some students travel long distance to and from the school.

Ms Kopelang said some pupils arrive at the school tired and fail to concentrate during lessons and she pleaded for transport to ferry such students.

The area Member of Parliament, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo who is also the Minister of Labour, Productivity and Skills Development said the government was concerned about the situations in some schools and thanked the private sector for its role in the education sector.

Mr Mabeo said a delegation was recently sent out by President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama to assess the situation in various school.

He said across the country, schools were facing challenges such as dilapidated buildings, shortage of classrooms, and shortage of teachers’ accommodation, adding that in some schools teachers expressed fear of supervising students during studies.

Mr Mabeo further regretted that drugs had found their way into the school premises and contributed to most of the students’ indiscipline.

Therefore, there is need for parents teachers and other stakeholders to collaborate and rid the drugs out of the schools.

He said all had the responsibility to ensure that students were moulded into responsible citizens of these country.

Opti Feeds Botswana general manager Mr Judge Mookodi said it took parents, teachers and students to produce the desired results.

As a result, he said it was important for stakeholders to work together adding that it takes a lot of motivation for students to continue with the good work.

“As we celebrate today, we need to reflect on a way forward,” he stated.

Mr Mookodi added that they decided to partner with the school to revive the prize giving day which had long been held at the school.

Further he encouraged the students to work hard adding that success comes from handwork and determination. ENDS