12 Mar 2020

Minister of Basic Education, Mr Fidelis Molao has told Parliament that there is an acute shortage of classrooms in some schools at primary, junior and senior secondary levels.

Responding to a question in Parliament Mr Molao explained that in some areas enrolments had increased whilst in other areas enrolments had declined.

The situation, he said was exacerbated by urbanisation and the movement of parents in search of employment, adding that many parents commute to work from outlying villages and drop their children in urban schools.

Mr Molao further said the ministry was short of 444 classrooms countrywide and was currently procuring 206 porta cabins to provide 412 classrooms in secondary schools across the country to help alleviate the problem.

“Our sister Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is mandated to provide classroom space for pre and primary education and continue to address the shortage of classrooms problem,” he said.

He further explained that the ministry would introduce multiple pathways in 2021, at Maun Senior Secondary School and Moeng College.

The pathways programme is designed to channel learners into different learning areas according to their interests and aptitudes and will target junior secondary completers and improve transition rates of learners into Form 4 or equivalent.

He however explained that the move would not necessarily address the challenge or teaching space in schools.

Member of Parliament for Tonota, Mr Pono Moatlhodi had asked the minister if it was true that there was an acute shortage of classrooms countrywide and if the ministry would consider introducing multi pathways learning to address the problem. ENDS