28 Jan 2020

Nxaraga leadership is worried by late recruitment of temporary teachers.

They aired their concern during a recent kgotla meeting addressed by Member of Parliament for Maun West, Mr Dumelang Saleshando.

The village leaders called on the department of education to address the issue urgently.

Government acceded to Nxaraga residents’ request to establish a satellite school in 2016 to reduce the 18 kilometre distance pupils traveled to Komana and Kareng schools.

The pupils were transported by government truck daily and at times they would miss classes if the truck had a breakdown.

Kgosi Gaolatlhe Kgosigaenyatswe told the meeting that the school comprised of five teachers, one permanent and pensionable while the rest were temporary teachers.

He appreciated government efforts for ensuring pupils accessed education nearer but expressed frustration that teachers were hired late, got paid late and the school was experiencing acute shortage of water.

Kgosi Kgosigaenyatswe thanked government for providing developments in his village such as the upgrading of the school, noting that the school had five classes, but now they had included standard six and seven.

He, however, raised a concern that standard six and seven pupils were admitted at Kareng village, something which parents were not happy about.

Kgosi Kgosigaenyatswe also complained about the bad state of the road, stating that they had long called for its improvement since the village was gazetted in 2010, but nothing happened.

Delay to allocate residential plots also worried the village leadership.

Village Development Committee chairperson, Mr Allison Mangena concurred that late recruitment of temporary teachers contributed to poor performance at the school.

He said it was painful because since the school re-opened, pupils had been idling without teachers.

He also highlighted that they were promised a fully-fledged school, which was included in the District Development Plan (DDP) and earmarked to be constructed in the financial year 2018/19 to 2019/20 but expressed disappointment that there was nothing happening.

Mr Mangena complained about the village trust saying since its formation in 2008, it had never operated to benefit the community as expected; and asked the MP to intervene.

MP Saleshando told the meeting that issues such as education, village trusts and roads were on the top list of his agenda.

He explained that education was the only tool to a brighter future and that every parent dreamt of seeing their child being successful.

He appreciated government efforts of establishing the school by putting up porta cabins but stated that that was a temporary measure since a fully-fledged school was needed.

Mr Saleshando also condemned the arrangement of hiring temporary teachers, arguing that government had to review the arrangement as some had been employed on temporary basis for years.

“I am not undermining temporary teachers, but I want the government to do away with the arrangement and hire them on permanent basis because we cannot run schools with temporary teachers. This issue needs to be addressed,” he added.

Mr Saleshando added that even Tirelo Setshaba beneficiaries should be absorbed in the eould not serve until they reach 30 years.

He also urged parents to play their role towards their children’s education. Earlier on some parents requested that PTA members be given wages as an incentive, but the MP disagreed arguing that the system required all to come on board.

On issues of water shortage, he promised to meet with Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) officials. ENDS