29 Jan 2019

The North West District Council (NWDC) has promised to address teachers’ accommodation challenges at Nxaraga Satellite School.

In an interview, NWDC chairperson, Mr Duncan Enga, said the council was aware of  challenges at the school and were working around the clock to rectify the situation.

Some teachers reportedly sleep in the staffroom while awaiting accommodation. Initially, teachers were accommodated at Nxaraga Rural Training Centre.

Mr Enga explained that they had secured some funds to purchase the first batch of porta cabins to address the matter temporarily.

The council expectation was to purchase and put up the porta cabins before end of the financial year.

“This situation at Nxaraga needs urgent attention and we are doing all in our power to come up with solution,” he added.

He said Nxaraga was a newly gazetted village, therefore, it should have all necessary amneties including a fully-fledged school.

The satellite school opened doors on February 2016 as an answer to residents who requested government to establish a school in the village.

Residents had complained that their children had been suffering because they travelled 18km to Komana Primary School.

Although government transported pupils by a truck, they sometimes missed classes due to the truck breakdown.

It was also reported that some pupils absconded from school while most of them were performed badly academically because of lack of parental support.

The council chairman admitted that it was part of his roadmap to improve accessibility of children to schools especially to those residing in hard to reach areas.

Mr Enga explained that many children in the periphery were found living with their parents far from school accessible villages.

In that regard, the council encouraged development of two teacher’s schools to facilitate children’s learning at an appropriate age and villages such as Jao Flats, Khwai and Sexaxa benefited from private sector assistance.

Mr Enga said the council had taken a decision to complete all pending projects at the schools.

He said they also intended to buy porta cabins at Khwai to address issue of teachers’ accommodation adding that they had secured P10 million to fastrack the projects and ensure commencement before end of financial year.

In addition, he said they intended to establish another school at Boro since pupils travelled 18km to nearby school.

He said Boro was adjacent to wildlife management areas of which children were at risk of dangerous animals such as buffaloes, lions and elephants and at times they missed classes if animals were identified in the area.

In the last council session, Mr Enga expressed concern regarding the council’s under utilisation of the development budget.

He said their focus should be to utilize the remaining budget and fast track pending projects to ensure they benefit the communities. ENDS