04 Apr 2019

Government has to date spent P10.8 million on school fees for children of former BCL employees in private schools such as Morula, Kopano and Mount Pleasant.

Mr Kwerepe said children enrolled in schools outside Selebi Phikwe were also assisted. He said the initiative was part of a number of initiatives introduced when the mine closed.

“For my ministry, the plan was to provide an education subsidy to parents of primary and secondary school children who were enrolled in private institutions for a period of 15 months up to the end of 2017,” he said.

He noted that it was extended up to December 2018 to allow children to move into public schools thereafter.

Mr Kwerepe pointed out that other than the ministry committing to paying school fees, the ministry did not commit to any other incentives or plans to accord such to parents and pupils. 

The assumption was that other benefits would fall into place as per existing government policies when applicable.

The ministry, he noted, was assisting all parents of pupils attending public schools through the provision of free primary education.

“For parents and pupils attending public schools, the ministry assists with relatively free education (cost sharing) like all other children. If for some reason the socio-economic status of parents has gone very low, the parents may after assessment (S&CD) qualify for existing government assistance policies as is the current practice,” he said.

MP Dithapelo Keorapetse of Selebi Phikwe West had sought an update on payment of school fees for children of former BCL employees in private schools such as Morula, Kopano and Mount Pleasant.

He also wanted the minister to explain the plan, including other incentives accorded to parents and pupils besides tuition fees, and how parents of pupils attending public schools were assisted by the ministry. ENDS