22 Aug 2019

Kanye Administrative Authority (KAA) has spent over P3 million on the new primary schools feeding programme since its inception in April, KAA sub-council chairperson Mr Tlhomamo Dibeela has said. 

This has resulted in a total of 159 local farmers and other suppliers benefitting from the programme.

Addressing a sub-council session on August 19, Mr Dibeela noted that due to this new development, bread demand had also increased resulting in empowerment of poverty eradication programmes.

“A total amount of P3 548 297 has been spent on the supply of fruits, eggs and vegetables since the introduction of the new menu. Due to the newly introduced breakfast, bread supply has increased from one to four days in a week. This has empowered the poverty eradication beneficiaries as the profit margin has significantly increased unlike before when they supplied once a week,” he said.

However, Mr Dibeela said even though the programme was running well, there was still shortage of supply for vegetables and eggs. As a result, he noted that schools such as Gasita and Lorolwane got their supplies from Selokolela and Kanye respectively.

On other issues, the sub-council chairperson said the number of reception classes in KAA government schools had increased from 15 in 2015 to 21, from a total of 27 schools. 

He said the programme had a positive impact as it prepared pupils for Standard 1.

“As I speak, 21 out of 27 primary schools have managed to enroll pupils under the age of five years for reception classes. The programme has really helped as our pupils are now prepared for Standard 1,”he said.

Mr Dibeela however acknowledged that shortage of classrooms has hampered enrollment of the programme to the remaining six primary schools. 

Nonetheless, he said construction of two reception classrooms was ongoing at Molapowabojang and Pitsonyane primary schools which are expected to accommodate about 60 pupils come January next year.

Additionally, he said in a bid to promote private sector participation in education, KAA had successfully registered and licensed a total of 34 day care centres, whose association was registered last month to improve compliance.

 

“The Home Economics Division succeeded in mobilising all day care centres in the KAA jurisdiction in forming and registering a day care association by July 2019, whose aim will be to ensure that members comply with the relevant laws governing their service and also to have a common voice in addressing some challenges facing their service. ENDS