16 Jan 2019

John Nswazwi Junior Secondary School staff houses, which were built through the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), will be handed over to the school at the end of the 2018/2019 financial year.

Member of Parliament for Shashe West, Mr Fidelis Molao, said this in response to a report by Marapong village development committee chairperson, Mr Alfred Mbikiwa who said the houses had been completed but they were still not occupied.

Mr Molao said there had been a misunderstanding between the Ministry of Basic Education and the contractor, but the issue had since been resolved.

Therefore, he expressed hope that before the end of the financial year, the 24 staff houses would be handed over.

The houses were built alongside the ones for Tlhalogang Junior Secondary School in Chadibe at a cost of over P37 million.

He said the staff houses werre expected to address the accommodation crisis at the school, adding though that they would not clear the backlog, they would make a great difference. 

The legislator further noted that though accommodation shortage was still a challenge, government and other stakeholders were working hard to address it.

Meanwhile, the VDC chairperson said the facility’s hostels should be considered for expansion since the school absorbed pupils from Marapong catchment areas as well from villages as far as Matsitama and Kutamogoree. 

He said this year, the boarding facilities were congested since the school had a huge intake of pupils who needed accommodation.

Sharing similar sentiments, the residents said they were worried about the spread of communal diseases, looking at the number that had been admitted for boarding.

They said a dormitory, which was supposed to accommodate six pupils, was now housing almost 25  and with the water crisis facing the village, the situation was going to be a health hazard.

In addition, the residents complained that there was no classroom for the reception class at Mampori Primary School. 

In response, Mr Molao said when reception classes were introduced, the arrangement was that the schools should have space for such a class, even if it would be at community halls or churches.

He nonetheless promised to take up their concerns with the relevant ministry. Ends