03 Dec 2017

Maintenance of schools across the country will be budgeted for in the coming financial year of 2018/19.

When responding to the request by the secretary of the Village Development Committee Ms Naomi Lekgabe who asked for maintenance of their primary and junior secondary schools  in a kgotla meeting on November 30, President Lt Gen Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama said government had a challenge of maintenance of schools across the country.

He said after realising the need to attend to this problem he sent out his ministers and senior government officials to find out the state of schools around the country.

President Khama said the report had been submitted and there was a need to budget for maintenance of schools and that will be carried out in the next financial year.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Basic Education Ms Grace Muzila said they were also aware of the need to maintain schools around the country.

She said priority will be given to some schools, including Madikwe Junior Secondary School.

Ms Muzila said there were 83 schools that had to be refurbished and so far they have managed to attend to only 20 schools, explaining that  the rest will be carried out in the next coming three years.

She also responded to the plea by Ms Lekgabe who asked for a science lab at Madikwe secondary school, saying that due to the number of the increase in the number of students to junior schools, they turned some science labs into classrooms but they have a plan to turn another classroom into a lab at Madikwe.

In addition, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr slumber Tsogwane said they were sent by President Khama to visit all schools and assess their state and a report had been made which would guide the maintenance schedule. He said as the ministry they would attend to the maintenance of schools once the budget had been approved which would provide a conducive environment for learning. Minister Tsogwane further said they had a plan to introduce the new menu for primary schools to improve standard of health..

He was responding to Ms Mpolokeng Pilane who asked when the menu catered for primary school students will be changed.

President Khama also used the opportunity to welcome Kgosi Bana Sekai back to work and said he was happy to see him.

He also applauded Kgosi Segale Linchwe for working with him during his tenure in office as his term of office comes to an end next year March. Ends