27 Feb 2018

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Slumber Tsogwane says governmnet is concerned that despite the fact that  the Ministry of Education and Skills Development continues to get the lion’s share in the budget annually, schools in the country continue to post unsatisfactory results.

Mr Tsogwane explained that government was working round the clock to find out what could be the root cause of the problem.

However, he reiterated that some of the problems included lack of laboratories and libraries in some of the learning institutions adding that some schools needed refurbishment.

He was speaking during a three party cooperation steering committee meeting between Ghanzi District Council, Ale Municipality from Sweden and Budesti Municipality from Moldova on February 26.

The purpose of the meeting was to give the minister an overview and progress of the twinning arrangements between the three local authorities and map the way forward in order to achieve their objectives to improve the lives of their own local communities.

He said Botswana was also faced with the problem of school drop-outs and absenteeism for various reasons adding that the twinning partnership would benefit the three local authorities because it offered some mutual benefits and served as an important economic drive for community projects.

On other issues, Minister Tsogwane told the delegation that there were 755 primary schools in Botswana and that it was the responsibility of councils to build and maintain classrooms as well as to supply furniture and stationary.

He said his ministry was only responsible for buying text books while payments or salaries for teachers was the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Skills Development.

He explained that the three party cooperation between the three local authorities was a well-informed decision which would bear fruit if implemented according to its plans and goals.

For her part, the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural  Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso thanked Sweden and Moldova to have partnered with Ghanzi District Council saying the district was made of 10 settlements where most of the remote rural dwellers resided.

She said this was the district where problems such as school drop-outs and absenteeism were rampant.

She explained that her ministry was responsible for taking care of the elderly people, destitute, needy and vulnerable children through buying them school uniform and food baskets.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Ale Municipality, Ms Paula Orn explained that there were 290 municipalities which took care of over 10 million people in Sweden.

She said one responsibility of these municipalities was to take care of the elderly by providing them with special homes where they could get food and medication.

She explained further that though the municipalities did face some serious problems such as absenteeism and school drop outs, issues of orphans and teenage pregnancy were still low.

Permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr Boipolole Khumomatlhare thanked Sweden and Moldova for their gesture in partnering with Ghanzi District Council. ENDs