25 Mar 2018

Parliament has learnt that there are seven satellite schools located in Bikwe, Eretsha, Letoreng, Machana, Mokgacha, Nxaraga and Shaikarawe.

Responding to a question in Parliament on March 22, Minister of Basic Education, Dr Unity Dow said her ministry was working with the ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to provide access to primary education to all.

She said the construction of those schools was financed by government often in partnership with local communities, supported by some non-government organisations, churches and local benefactors.

The recurrent costs of the schools, she said were borne by government through their parent schools, adding that the criteria used to decide the location of those satellite schools was based on the distances children had to travel to school and availability of sustainable land and community involvement. Minister Dow was responding to a question by Mahalapye West MP, Mr Joseph Molefe who had asked the minister to state the number of satellite schools and where they were located as well as how the construction of these schools was financed and the criteria used to decide the location of those schools.

He also wanted to know the total number of private or public students and schools.

Still in Parliament, Dr Dow said the total number of public schools is as follows, primary 755, 207 junior secondary, 32 senior secondary and two unified schools.

“The private sector does not have any dedicated senior secondary schools, they are generally unified schools offering both levels,” she said.

There are 73 private primary schools and 50 private secondary schools, and a total of 24 704 children were attending private primary schools while 8 599 were attending private secondary schools.

Dr Dow noted that 358 854 children attend public primary schools, 123 319 public junior secondary schools and 50 233 at senior secondary level.

MP Molefe had asked the minister to state the total number of public and private schools primary, junior and senior secondary. In addition, Mr Molefe wanted to know the total number of children attending private and public schools at primary, junior and secondary.ENDS