26 Mar 2018

Plans are under way to construct a two-teacher school at Boro to help children who travel about 20km a day to attend school at Matlapana, funds permitting.

The long awaited school would be an answer to Boro residents, who have been having sleepless nights about the distance travelled by their children to access education.

They were worried that children travel long distance in an area infested with dangerous animals such as elephants.

In every session of the full council, the area councillor, Mr Kenson Kgage never hesitated to present the residents, concern and their plea for the said school.

Mr Kgage was a happy man when responding to the council chairperson’s speech, which indicated that their plea would be answered, funds permitting.

He wished the council could secure funding and speed up the project, adding that their positive response would also help improve the performance of the children as they would access education nearer.

The council has embarked on the process to utilise buildings by the kgotla at Boro which include one LA2 house, two LA1 houses and a hall.

In his speech, the council chairperson, Mr Duncan Enga explained that the buildings were dilapidated and would have to be renovated before they could be used.

In addition, he indicated that there were no ablution blocks and thus they would have to be constructed as well as water and electricity reticulated.

He further said the assessment of the buildings has been done to determine the costs of maintenance which amounted to over P1 million, adding that currently funding was not available.

However, Mr Enga stressed that they would have to devise modalities of how to finance the project.

With regard to Sexaxa two-teacher school, he said it was nearing completion. The school was donated by And Beyond Company and it was supposed to be operational in January.

The chairperson said the school was not in a condition to operate as the donor has completed the facilities with some pending items such as the fact that the classroom block has no chalkboards, shelves and notice boards while ablution blocks had no water reticulation and the kitchen has no plumbing and drainage due to financial constraints.

Mr Enga revealed that they were working round the clock with the donor to hand over the school so that the council could take over and complete it.  The pending works, he said amounted to P250 000 and ‘we are currently trying to source the amount from our budget. I am hopeful that by the second term, the school would be operational as the pending works are minor’, he added.

As for Khwai Primary School, he said there might be some delays in providing the necessary equipment/furniture due to lack of funds as the school was not budgeted for.

The school is a donation by Okavango Air Rescue and the construction is currently ongoing.

He mentioned that some of the facilities are being built such as administration block, computer lab, ablution block, kitchen and dining hall and seven single classroom blocks.

Mr Enga said the council would provide other facilities such as eight LA2 staff houses, kitchen equipment and furniture for the administration block and classrooms. ENDS