22 May 2020

Only one school in the Ghanzi region is lagging behind while the rest have completed refurbishment and construction of additional toilets alongside installation of hand wash basins.

The Ministry of Basic Education’s Ghanzi regional director-operations, Dr Mpho Isaiah conceded in an interview on Thursday, that though they had made remarkable progress, they were still lagging behind at Itekeng Junior Secondary School (JSS).

However, he stated that the contractor had promised to work hard to finish work before next week Friday and they would continue to visit the site to ensure  progress.

He said when erecting hand wash basins, there was no provision of hot water because of financial constraints.

Dr Isaiah said at Ghanzi Senior Secondary School, they installed geysers they took from staff houses, which might be used to provide hot water for hand basins at the school.

He further stated that in other schools, arrangement was that hand sanitisers would be used in the morning or warm water will be provided in containers, while hand wash basins would be used later on the day.

Dr Isaiah stated that there were plans to engage safety health and environment (SHE) officers who would ensure that institutions complied with COVID-19 protocols and regulations.

“Some will be from the existing staff, while some would be employed,” he said.

Dr Isaiah said social distancing might call for morning and afternoon shifts because classes that would go beyond 30 pupils would be divided, adding that there was likelihood that additional teachers would be needed.

He said the school calander might run until December without a break to compensate for lost time. ends