01 Mar 2020

Members of Parliament have approved budget proposals for the Ministry of Basic Education (MoBE).

Debating the ministry’s budget proposals for the 2020/2021 financial year on Thursday, legislators called for increased funding for the ministry arguing that it laid a foundation for economic transformation.

Ngami MP, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama said a knowledge-based economy required a well-trained nation and that would not be achieved if the syllabus was not aligned to the set national aspirations.

MP Hikuama further called for free education saying at the moment, only a few parents paid school fees.

He said given the challenges facing pre-school, government should consider sponsoring students to private institutions.

MP Hikuama also said government should encourage Batswana to set up pre-schools with government paying salaries while owners only managed the premises.

He was concerned that the ministry had 1 823 temporary teachers, adding that they should be given permanent jobs.

MP Hikuama decried the poor status of schools buildings in his constituency.

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi welcomed the multi pathways envisaged through the ETSSP.

He argued that the curriculum should be changed every 10 years to keep in line with market demands.

As for teachers engaged in sport, Mr Mmolotsi said overtime allowance should be included in the budget due to extra-curricular activities. He called for reduction of class sizes and said port-a-cabins could be used in the absence of additional classrooms.

He also expressed concern about ill-discipline among students in various schools across the country and called for the minister to take action that could include expalsion.

MP Tshoganetso Louwe of Takatokwane said time was now for students to be provided with tablets and do away with textbooks.

He further said temporary teachers should be engaged on a permanent basis as it was evident that there were vacancies, especially since employment of new staff members had been frozen although some teachers had left the service due to a number of reasons.

MP Louwe invited the Minister of Basic Education, Mr Fidelis Molao to visit Lempu Junior Secondary School in Salajwe, saying the school had not yet healed from mass hysteria attacks.

He further said dispute between teachers and Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) would not end until teachers engaged to mark final examinations were paid night out allowances or accommodation.

Molepolole South MP, Mr Kabo Morwaeng also said funds allocated to the ministry were insufficient to drive the transformation agenda.

He said majority of schools in his constituency, including Kgari Sechele II Senior School needed maintenance.

MP Morwaeng said another senior school should be built in Molepolole to ease congestion at other schools, adding that pupils performed better when living with their parents.

He further called for construction of additional staff housing saying teachers who shared accommodation were not living well and that negatively affected their performance.

Mmadinare MP, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi said funds were low looking at the needs of modern education.

He wondered how ETSSP could be achieved when schools needed maintenance, adding Mmadinare Senior Secondary School did not have water and sewage system.

MP Molebatsi called for the provision of infrastructure and improved livelihood for teachers.

He suggested that since BCL mine had closed, vacant houses should be allocated to teachers working in Tobane, Sefhophe and Mmadinare.

Dr Never Tshabang, MP for Nkange, said Minister Molao was faced with a massive challenge of turning around results, which had been poor for a number of years.

He said pupils still travelled 22 kilometres per day between Changate and Nkange and therefore Nkange Junior Secondary School should have boarding facilities.

Dr Tshabang said there was something wrong with the current grading system and should therefore be changed. ENDS